The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word
Their entrance was as dramatic as their performance.
Imagine. Rhythmic feet striking the floor in trained lockstep. Fists clenched under chin form a conduit to rising power that explodes through voices as they announce, “We Are the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word” These gentlemen, ages 8-18, held the audience rapt as they lyrically and physically intertwined stories of pain, despair, hope and triumph on a level far beyond their years.
The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word perform original poetry from their book, Silent Screams: Real Life Poetry by The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word. These talented young men are also members of the Aiming High program at Cleveland UMADAOP (Urban Minority Alcoholism Abuse Out-reach Project). The mission of this program is to help African American youth find their way and lead highly productive lives. This successful program has been in existence for over 25 years.
Under the direction of Project Director Honey S. Bell-Bey, these young men have learned to embrace raw emotion and transform it into disciplined art. Their performance poetry speaks to their experiences. Each shout documents a personal struggle: a missing father, a fallen friend. Each phrase they write represents a new path to healing and survival. According to their mentor and teacher, Ms. Bell-Bey, “they have learned to listen to the power of their thoughts and exercise that power through the pen.”
This phenomenal and unique experience was brought to Southeast by the Education Department and presented during a special AY program, on February 21, 2009. According to Deborah Miller, Education Department director, “We don‘t get to see this often in our communities. Usually on the news, we see the negative aspects. But instead of giving into the despair they see all around them, these young men have focused on something positive.” Assistant Director, Naomi Fluellen described them as simply “phenomenal.”
During their 45-minute performance, the audience was taken on a journey that deftly weaved original poetry, choreographed movement, and dramatic samples from literary giants such as Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King, Jr. Their perform-ance included a unique interpretation of Creation and an emo-tionally stirring reenactment of the Crucifixion.
When asked what motivates them to do what they do, Dis-tinguished member Shaquille Taylor, 15, stated, “we wanted to do something so people would notice us for good.” And people are noticing these exceptional young men for good. Their performances have taken them from Cleveland City Hall to Miami, Florida. With their immense talent, solid de-termination, and unequalled support, the Distinguished Gen-tlemen of Spoken Word will be noticed for good for a long time to come.
The evening was shared by another incredible talent, Sherrie Tolliver. Ms. Tolliver is the Cultural History Interpreter for the Garfield Park Nature Center, but according to Naomi Fluellen, “she is Rosa Parks. You can close your eyes and believe you are listening to Rosa Parks.”
Indeed, listening to Sherrie Tolliver recount the Montgomery bus boycott is like sitting across the table from an old friend, sipping a cup of tea, and simply catching up on the Civil Rights Era. At times she seemed to wear the burdens of racial injustice as loosely as she wore her plain, grey cloth coat. But her ease could suddenly become disarming as she described the daily struggles that some people can only imagine.
As you listen to Tolliver, you are transported back in time when routine for Black folk in the South meant boarding a bus at the front to pay the fare, and then exiting the bus to re-enter from the back. At times, this indignity was intensified as the bus driver pulled off before the passenger could re-board.
The day she was arrested is historic. According to ‘Ms. Parks,’ “People say I was tired, that my feet hurt. I was tired…tired of being a second-class citizen.” And so, the Civil Rights movement sprang to life.
‘Ms. Parks’ vividly recalled the reasons she and other African-Americans were tired. Tired of being relegated to the ‘back of the bus’. Tired of having to give up their seat to a white person when the white section was full.
She spoke of a young preacher named Martin Luther King, Jr., who helped to ignite and later lead the movement. She described the “rolling churches,” the station wagons purchased by churches to serve as private taxis to transport people back and forth to work and meetings.
‘Ms. Parks’ reminded the listeners of the demands that had to be met before the boycott would end: Courteous drivers, seating on a first-come, first-served basis and the hiring of black drivers. The 382-day struggle did eventually end, but not before many sacrifices were made.
Before ending her historical conversation, ‘Ms. Parks’‘ summed up the experience by quoting Mother Pollard: “My feet may be weary, but my soul is at rest.”
-by Cecily Anitah Bryant
