Roots of Rap: Poetry
Februaries, recurring
Performance to Teach Literacy, Poetry, History and Culture
Book Today! Contact Ebony Golden — egolden@irttheater.org
or Kori Rushton — krushton@irttheater.org
The art of putting words to rhythm can be found in many cultures. In China they call it Qin Songs; the Ashantes of Africa call their version Opo verses; in Jamaica it’s called chatting and in Trinidad it’s dubbing or Mamaguy. In Western Europe it is called poetry.
Yet rap is an African-American invention. Just as African-American culture developed its own recognizable musical heritage in jazz music, rap too has become a signature not only of African-American culture but the culture of modern youth as they express opinions and look for answers. Stretching boundaries and blurring the lines of art, culture, politics, and society, rap goes beyond music, lyrics and poetry with performances that inspire young audiences to look beyond the surface of all that they experience to find their own voice. .
Poems performed in “Roots of Rap: Poetry”
“All is Loud” (pigmy rhyme)
“Sangaree” (slave song)
“Negro Speaks Of Rivers” (Langston Hughes)
“I Myself” (Angel Gonzales)
“We Wear The Mask” (Paul Lawrence Dunbar)
“Strong Men” (Sterling A. Brown)
“Runagate I & II” (Robert Hayden)
“On Judgement Day” (Sepho Sempamla)
“Weary Blues” (Langston Hughes)
“Heritage” (Countee Cullen)
“Little Brown Baby” (Paul Lawrence Dunbar)
“But He Was Cool” (Don L. Lee)
Like rap, conventional poetry uses words and rhythm to convey image and meaning in an artistic and memorable way. The elements of poetry we explore in The Roots of Rap: Poetry include: symbolism, point of view, meter, rhyme, and dialect.
Rap and History
Thousands of years ago African storytellers memorized the history of their tribes and put it to words and song. These storytellers called themselves Jollees.
Kings would provide housing, food and shelter for these special storytellers, who were also called upon to settle disputes and give advice to the rulers.
When Africans were brought to this hemisphere as slaves in the 1500s, they brought with them an ancient tradition of talking to the beat: what we would call rapping today.
Slaves in the United States, influenced by the rap of their African heritage, sent coded messages in the form of songs and drumbeats. Using words in rhythm to deliver messages (either secret or public) is a very effective use of language.
Even today people use chanting and slogans when they demonstrate politically. Advertisers harness the power of that technique in commercial jingles.
Rap music is often controversial and hard hitting, making full use of the power of words and rhythm honed by centuries of use.
What People Are Saying…
“Wow! You had them in the palms of your hands. I know they will carry this lesson with them for a long time. A must see.” — Genia Flammia, Pearls Hawthorne ES
“I have never seen my classes so enthralled with a performance—I didn’t have to tell any of them to stop talking! They were so into the actors, music, dance and the message.” — Denise Casale, Robert Moses MS
“Roots of Rap was excellent for both Black History Month and our poetry genre study. The material greatly enhances our curriculum and is an excellent and fun way to learn. Do not let this program go!!” — Michele Bodanza, Eastern Suffolk BOCES
Image by Photochiel