Poetic Justice

On this episode of the Poetry As Usual podcast, we’re joined by members of the collective known as The Dope Poets: Imani Waweru, Storyteller Gordon, Brittany Barker, Lady Kay, and Jerome Heka. Together, they discuss what it means to be a poet and the responsibilities associated with that label. They explore the history of slam poetry and the ongoing debate about whether poets should be judged by fellow poets rather than randomly selected audience members. They also share their perspectives as curators, discussing what they look for when selecting poets to feature on their platforms. Additionally, they brainstorm ways to navigate situations in which someone in the poetry community alleges harm by another member of the community. The episode also introduces a new segment, “Come Outside Poet,” where each of them shares the names of poets they would like to see reemerge into the poetry scene.Tune into the third episode of the Poetry As Usual Podcast.