A&E
Photo by Andres Aguilar ’19
SpeakEasy offers community and expressio
By Terri Moise ’17
April 13, 2017
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On Thursday, April 6, 2017, I walked up to the microphone in the Sadove living room and delivered a poem about art and the power it has, revealing how art has changed me, to open up my last SpeakEasy as a host. An event sponsored by a wide array of offices and organizations on campus, such as the Black and Latinx Student Union, the Womxn’s Center and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, SpeakEasy represents what I perceive to be the best Hamilton College has to offer: community and expression.
Entering its fifth year, SpeakEasy has become a longstanding tradition. Hosted by Dr. Crystal Leigh Endsley and members of the Feminists of Color Collective, SpeakEasy is an open mic and poetry lounge open to all members of the Hamilton community. Many members of Hamilton’s community of color find SpeakEasy a great event and a wonderful addition to Hamilton’s wide variety of events. Spontaneous performances often occur, as students are moved to sign-up after seeing riveting pieces delivered by their fellow classmates. Poets, singers, dancers, painters and playwrights all find themselves sharing their art and transforming the Sadove living room from a mere event space to a haven where art, truth and emotion run free and solidarity is felt throughout the room.
Richard Njoroge ’18 marveled at the unity demonstrated among the community of color at the event. To Njoroge “It is a time for people of color to come together and perform as they see fit. SpeakEasy gives people of color a platform they don’t often have every day.”
Many individuals left the event feeling recharged and contemplative, as the various performances touched upon a whole range of topics. Jana Prudhomme ’19 delivered a riveting poem in which she has a conversation with Happiness, a familiar friend who never seemed to stay for long, but was always welcomed back. Aleta Brown ’17 followed soon after with a jaw-dropping rendition of Nina Simone’s “Blackbird,” sending chills throughout the room. Other performances included Lashawn Ware ’17’s intriguing piece around fragments and identity, Justin Madison ’20’s “Cursed Skin,” a poem challenging perceptions of blackness and ending with a celebration of melanin, and Mirsadies Raber-Dunning ’18’s letter written by her 16-year-old self. With a perfect end to the night, Dr. Endsley set the stage aflame with a spoken word piece that lit fires in the hearts of the entire audience.
SpeakEasy is an event that has been close to my heart since my freshman year. From being the first college event and venue where I truly felt welcomed to the last lines of poetry and words of thanks that I spoke into the microphone, SpeakEasy became a venue for artists of all backgrounds to express their truths. While many traditions fade with time and change, SpeakEasy will continue to have a place at Hamilton College. More than just an event, it sets itself apart as an experience devoted completely to the building and maintaining of a community for members while creating a space committed to free-flowing artistic expression.
Branden Miles’ 17, a regular attendee of the event, summed it up best: “Speakeasy was a space filled with good energy, community, and support. The performers took risks and received great support. Although it was my last one, I’m hoping to continue to hear about the positive vibes it brings to the campus, especially the community of color, as an alumni.”