Photos by Maria Saenz.
Say you were told that open mic nights can serve as spiritual experiences, would that catch your attention? If so, then you should have been to this latest happening on the Sept. 24 because it sure did feel like everyone who went left with something. Whether that something was the audience leaving with a new insight on things because of the poems said, or the support the presenters received for being courageous enough to be vulnerable on stage, by the end of the night everybody had something to enjoy about the open mic.
What began with a small crowd of spectators one minute grew into a sizable audience in the blink of an eye as the event wore on. The event was hosted by two UNC Charlotte alumni who were also part of the SlamCharlotte team that won the National Poetry Slam competition two years in row, Bluz and Carlos, the former being the Slam Master at the time. It was an honor to not only have two alumni performing on campus, but also to see two well-versed poets interact with the crowd in such a way that people feel comfortable being themselves. Both hosts made sure whenever they were performing to convey the message that ultimately the night belonged to those people in question who felt like presenting their work.
From the presenters, most of whom were students or soon to be students, with the exception of Miss Kim Hight who works over at the financial aid office, sprung an array of different topics that for the most part dealt with different aspects of identity, specifically race and gender. Those topics also merged onto the themes expressed in the rest of the poems which dealt with the strength it takes to overcome what obstacles life may bring, which talked about depression, heartbreak, physical abuse, etc.
Something sacred was born out of the shared experience of this Open Mic Night, where the spectators replied to every performance and performer with enthusiasm and every presenter put themselves into their piece, something that elevated the event to that of a spiritual affair.