Black Women's Spoken Word

By Melissa Panayeta

Image from Prof. Ellis-William's Presentation on Black Women's Spoken Word

Black Women's use of spoken word is described by Antoinette Ellis-Williams, a professor of Women & Gender Studies, New Jersey City University, as an empowerment and resistance tool for African American Women. Professor Ellis-Williams presented her work and ideas at the annual UTSA African American Studies Symposium.  At this event, she noted that the sole purpose for spoken word is for expression of minorities to address ethical and political issues that affect them directly. She informs us that there are many different types of spoken words that can be used to convey a message, not just simply poetry.

The different types include prose, poetry, narrative, bios, lyrics that "provide authentic voice to stories," according to Ellis-Williams. These respond to linear and hierarchial power structures such as patriarchy, heteronomativity, and white supremacy. These types of spoken word also respond to capitalism, colonization, poverty, violence, marginalization, and isolation.

Spoken word used by Black Women has been long seen as a means to voice women's discomfort with politics and society. Dr. Ellis-Williams provided us with an amazing website which praises and celebrates Black Women's spoken word all over the country. Spoken word by Black Women has been shaping the minds of thousands for generations and will continue to shape the generations to come; it is an extremely important part of the societies, not only in America, but around the globe.

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Melissa is a nursing major at Lone Star College - North Harris, with a strong admiration for Black Women spoken word artists, which according to Melissa, helped her become a better, more knowledgeable woman. She identifies as an "aspiring nurse, artist, and poetry slam dunker."