“Black privilege is me having already memorized my nephew’s eulogy, my brother’s eulogy, my father’s eulogy, my unconceived child’s eulogy.”
For the next five days heading into the new year, we’ll be counting down the top videos on Button from 2015! Coming in fifth on the list, “Black Privilege” by Crystal Valentine. Congratulations Crystal! Watch the video below.
“I don’t like goodbyes anymore. I force myself to say see you soon.”
Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button Playlist, featuring the hottest recent videos on the Button YouTube channel. Updated every week! Today’s additions: RJ Walker & Rob Gibsun. Congratulations poets!
Congratulations to Poetry Slam, Inc. on topping 2,000,000 views on their YouTube channel! All of the performances we film from finals stages at the annual Women of the World Poetry Slam, National Poetry Slam, and Individual World Poetry Slam go up over there, so make sure to subscribe and check it all out!
“My depression is a shapeshifter. One day it’s as small as a firefly in the palm of a bear; the next, it’s the bear.”
Congratulations to Sabrina Benaim on becoming the fourth poet on the Button YouTube to top 3,000,000 views on her video! Check it out below.
“Loneliness is my specialty, like trembling is that of an earthquake, or how a closet is supposed to hide all the right parts of me.”
Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button Playlist, featuring the hottest recent videos on the Button YouTube channel. Updated every week! Today’s additions: Iain Kohn, Rachel Wiley, Crystal Valentine, & Carrie Rudzinski. Congratulations poets!
“Maybe he saw through the masks I built ever since I realized that sometimes it’s safer in costume.”
Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button Playlist, featuring the hottest recent videos on the Button YouTube channel. Updated every week! Today’s additions: Javon Johnson and Patrick Roche. Congratulations poets!
“If your God really wanted you in my pants, he would’ve made you me.”
Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button Playlist, featuring the hottest recent videos on the Button YouTube channel. Updated every week! Today’s additions: Theresa Davis, Crystal Valentine, and Amber Tambyln. Congratulations poets!
“If you develop an eating disorder when you are already thin to begin with, you to go the hospital. If you develop an eating disorder when you are not thin to begin with, you are a success story.”
Don’t miss this week’s Best of Button Playlist, featuring the hottest recent videos on the Button YouTube channel. Updated every week! Today’s additions: Blythe Baird and a group piece from the House Slam team. Congratulations poets!
On October 29th and 30th, representatives of Button Poetry met with representatives of TruArtSpeaks at Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe in Saint Paul for a racial equity/social justice analysis and training moderated by Gabriella Anais Deal-Márquez of Voices for Racial Justice.
Over the course of the two-day meeting, we discussed details and addressed lingering questions in regards to last year’s prospective Button Educational Initiative and the events surrounding it, and their impact on individuals and communities in the Twin Cities. We also examined racial equity and social justice, and how they can be practiced and committed to both individually and organizationally, as well as the historical and present impact of oppressive systems and white supremacy. Many productive and valuable conversations occurred, and the meeting ended on a positive and encouraging note.
We at Button are committed to navigating our space in the Twin Cities poetry communities responsibly, equitably, and transparently. We would like to recognize TruArtSpeaks’ ongoing and invaluable work in the Twin Cities, and extend our thanks and gratitude to their organization for coordinating this training and this dialogue. We would also like to thank Gabriella for facilitating. Any questions from members of the community for Button Poetry in regards to this meeting, last year’s proposed initiative, or surrounding issues can be addressed to us at buttonpoetry@gmail.com, and we will do our best to respond thoroughly and promptly.
“Character is shy yet codependent, searching for love in all the wrong men.”
Check out this sharp poem from Amber Tamblyn, performing at Art Share LA.