Slam poetry is extremely underrated. It’s more than poets screaming and struggling to catch their breath. Slam poetry is real emotion and raw content. These poets are not afraid to share their deepest thoughts and use the words they’ve been told not to say. Below are ten slam poems by powerful women that will leave you with goosebumps.
1. Pretty by Katie Makkai
“The word pretty is unworthy of everything you will be and no child of mine will be contained in five letters.”
Makkai redefines the word “pretty” through gruesome images of cosmetic surgery, and a beautiful message to young girls everywhere.
Listen to this the next time your little sister asks you if she’s pretty…
2. American Rape Culture by Desireé Dellagiacomo & FreeQuency
“They say Americans have no culture…but we live in a country where it is tradition to take, custom to be predatory.”
Dellagiacomo and FreeQuency expose rape culture through our most popular songs and celebrities. This is the pop culture that is shaping the youth.
Listen to this the next time you find yourself singing along to Blurred Lines…
3. Somewhere in America by Belissa Escolodeo, Zariya Allen & Rhiannon McGavin
“The greatest lessons you will ever teach us will not come from your syllabus. The greatest lessons you will ever teach us you will not even remember.”
Escolodeo, Allen, and McGavin criticize our American education system that controls and censors curriculums.
Listen to this poem the next time your younger sibling/relative asks you for help on their Common Core homework…
4. If I Should Have a Daughter by Sarah Kay
“But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.”
Kay writes this heartwarming letter to her daughter to warn her that life won’t always be easy, but it will be beautiful.
Listen to this when you’re feeling heartbroken…
5. Become Yourself by Captain Wiggles
“Try not to worry much about who you’ve been. Try to remember who you want to become.”
Captain Wiggles reminds us that being yourself can be hard to master, and that not knowing who you want to become is okay.
Listen to this poem when you’re feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty…
6. In My Skin by iCON
“This is not vanity. This is survival.”
iCon responds to comments about wearing too much makeup, and challenges criticisms every girl has encountered regarding her appearance.
Listen to this poem the next time someone says you’re wearing too much makeup…
7. Advice for Teenage Girls by Clementine von Radics
“The world is waiting for you to set it on fire.”
Clementine von Radics pays tribute to all the young girls who have changed history, and reminds young women that they are just as capable.
Listen to this poem when you’re feeling powerless or unable to make a difference…
8. To Be Black and Woman and Alive by Crystal Valentine & Aaliyah Jihad
“To be black and woman and alive is to be resilient. My very existence is defiance.”
Valentine and Jihad share their moving poem about race and what it means to be a black girl in America.
Listen to this poem the next time you hear, “I’m not into black girls.” or “White girls are winning.”…
9. A Lesson Learned from 3rd Graders by Lacey Roop
“If you want to learn to love better you should start with a friend you hate.”
Roop asks 3rd graders what love means, and not one of them define the term using gender.
Listen to this poem when you feel like you’ll be judged for who you love…
10. First Eve by Ebony Stewart
“You are what your mother is. Therefore, God is a woman.”
Stewart challenges everything you think you know about God and the creation of humankind.
Listen to this poem the next time Genesis is referenced in class…
I hope these poems have inspired you.