On the snowy evening of February 20th, RV’s Black Student Union and the Inklings Literary Magazine put on an Open Mic Night for students to perform poetry or prose, either their creations or pieces they enjoyed reading. The event was moving and emotional, unifying students through the written word to create a welcoming environment for all to share.
The event started at 6:45 and there were fifteen set readers to share works that were special to them. These pieces ranged from originals to the works of Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. It quickly became a hit with everyone, when listening to the poetry of others or dancing during intermission to the DJ.
Belquis Karimi, a sophomore here at RV, summarized her experience as a little nerve-wracking but extremely worth it: “At first it was very nerve-wracking to go up. It’s very personal,” Karimi said. “Sometimes it’s other people’s pieces and sometimes it’s your own. Either way, it’s a very personal connection. [The event] was very nice, we have so many kind and understanding people who want to hear what you have to say. It’s been such a positive experience and I’m excited to continue it next year.”
Senior Serena Braimah performed poetry at the Open Mic Night and felt a similar sentiment to Karimi as she was “pretty nervous, but it was a pretty nice experience.”
A great prose performance was Faith Ogunsola’s reading of “Amerikkkana” by Toluwanimi Obiwole. Ogunsola performed two short stories from the book, both gripping stories that captivated the audience.
Another notable literary performance was Ruby Levy’s performance of “In Time of Silver Rain” by Langston Hughes. A beautiful poem in itself, Levy’s performance amplified the meaning of the poetry in a true appreciation of the classic author.
Everyone’s efforts and talents shone through in their performances, as said by Catherine Strecker, a sophomore performer at the event. “Since this was my first time doing a reading of a poem and this is my first open mic night, it was very nerve-wracking,” Strecker said. “But it was so cool to hear everyone’s poems and hear everyone’s insights, especially how they read it. It was so interesting what the other performers could do.”
Paris Ford, a member of the Inklings Literary Magazine, also performed at the event with her original poetry. Her performance was a combination of emotionally charged lines with great thought and care.
Other performers at the Open Mic Night included senior Princess Koroma who beautifully read “Desire” by Alice Walker and a passionate reading of “I am a Black Girl” by April Chukwueke from senior Georgencia Frage.
The event allowed students to create a community space to share emotions and feelings creatively. This event had never been done before between the two clubs, but it is clear that it was a wonderful start and hopeful beginning of more Open Mic Nights like this one in the future.
