Undergirding any movement for change is the spoken and written word. From the griot that imparts an oral tradition to set the agenda and social construct of a communal society to an Investigative Reporter that uncovers malfeasance in government, it’s the written and spoken word that moves people to action. From the Harlem Renaissance for which the likes of Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Arna Bontemps emerged to the searing and provocative assessment of society by the likes of the late Amiri Baraka, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez.
The written and spoken word – through poetry, prose, sonnets and essay writing is an integral part of the African experience throughout the Diaspora. And that tradition of storytelling, social and political assessment helped to enrich the cultural lives of people around the globe. ‘COMMUNITY VOICES’ host, Ron Holland, explores the impact of the Spoken Word on America and throughout the world.
Movements and Voices of the African Diaspora Part 3: The Spoken Word was originally published on praisecharlotte.com
