Collaborations

Reply Yolanda Davis July 17, 2021 at 2:07 am

To whom it may concern:

My name is Yolanda Davis and I am writing a book under the genre of Pop Culture and Theology and am using spoken word poetry and poets as cultural artifacts as I compare spoken word poets of pop culture to poets of antiquity by highlighting the similarity of both prophetic voices. The book brings attention to how current generational cohorts incorporate social justice and theology aka God-Talk in their narratives through spoken word poetry, intersecting the sacred with the profane.
I am intrigued with the ongoing conversations, spoken word poets have with the sacred and the profane; conversations that are authentic, instinctive, and worth taking note of. Many poets speak truth to power on various social issues. I am equally intrigued by the poet’s daringness to intersect their verses with different theologies – Womanist Theology, Black Liberation Theology, Queer Theology, Asian Feminist Theology, Islamic Theology, Judaism, Polynesian Spirituality, Latinx, Humanism, etc. It was when I discovered research on Pop Culture and Theology, I felt a door opened up for me to entertain the conversation between spoken word poetry and theology.

I am reaching out to RunDSM for assistance in seeking spoken word poets whose poems intersect the sacred with the profane as it relates to LGBTQIA, social justice; equity; equality; silence, muteness, and voice.

The intent of the book invites the reader to pause and reflect on the bold and insightful expressions of spoken word poets with some historical and theological background. I invite the reader to listen to what the poets are saying, to contemplate the depth, meaning, and relevancy of their words, and to listen for the measure of discernment in their voices. I challenge the reader to take note of how the poetic artists SPIT their poems with unapologetic semantics in their exegetical storytelling. Whether sacred or profane, spoken word is a vessel storyteller use to tell the story. I do source various theologians and scholars, but I would not categorize it as a textbook.

The book is for all generational cohorts; it is my hope that the reader will hear and honor the voice of the contemporary poet as they continue to speak out loud as the prophetic poets that came before them, whose passion and spirits they follow.

The book will include the poetry of 9 poets. Some of the poets are recognized internationally, many have published, and I am humbled they have given copyright permission for me to recopy their work in my book.

I am seeking just two more poems to complete the book. One of the two poems is in the section of voice and silence. In this section of the book, I emphasize how some voices are rendered silent and socially muted, and yet the poet dares to break their silence and speak truth-to-power as the poet engages the sacred with the profane.

If there are any poets in RunDSM who may be interested, in allowing me to reprint their poems, they can contact me at innersagacity@gmail.com. Please note, I am unable to provide monetary compensation.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

Yolanda Davis, M.Div., D.Min
linkedin.com/in/yolandaadavis
(T) @SimplyYo_DMin
(I) msyolanda.davis