Echoes of the Economy

I curated a virtual spoken word event that amplified the voices of youth of color, ages 18-35, by exploring their perspectives and lived experiences on wealth, prosperity, and economic opportunity. The event, hosted on Zoom, served as a sacred, open space for youth and communities of color. The small, intergenerational audience, spanning multiple ages and backgrounds, helped bridge memory, hope and age.

What We Learned

Expressions of both narratives went far beyond material wealth to encompass family, community, belonging, access, health and safety, possibility, and thriving together in ways no money can measure. Their words were rooted in family, both present and ancestral, and on the shared strength and cultural richness of Black and Brown communities.

What came with ease was the poets’ willingness to participate in this project. They understood the weight of the narratives and how vital it was to give voice to the often-silenced experiences of Black and Brown communities. However, what proved most challenging were the narratives themselves and the weight of the truths. These stories were layered with generations of sacrifice, displacement, and longing. Emotions ran deep: anger, frustration, confusion and discomfort.

One example; please view the full gallery below
“America’s a steep cup,
We’re at the bottom of it.
Only at the center, you can have enough bodies
to climb to the top.”

From “Lottery Tickets,” by Elisha (Eli) Martin, 20, an alumni of the Brotherhood Sister-Sol and a member of the Writers Collective.