By Amber Williams
White Station High School
- From left to right. Tachele Anderson, Amber Williams, Kamyl Harvey, Cierra Burnett, Najwa Watson, Marica Wright (after the poetry slam)
“What’s Poppin’?”
Party of Poets Performing Incredible Nuances or P.O.P.P.I.N. is a club that was started at White Station High School in late 2009 by 2011 graduate, Rashad Coleman. The club mainly focuses on expression via spoken word. Members have competed in the city and state as well as performed at open mics across Memphis.
“P.O.P.P.I.N. is a product of this generation’s youth,” said Coleman, “Through fostering genuine expression via the contemporary art of spoken word, P.O.P.P.I.N. becomes an incubator for effective people by enforcing the highest cognitive processes, lifelong skills, and generating a sense of self.”
Rashad, now attending Weslyean University, a liberal arts college located in Middletown Connecticut, left seniors Cierra S. Burnett, 18, and Najwa E. Watson, 17, to fill his shoes as co-presidents.
A normal P.O.P.P.I.N. meeting is held in Paulette Regan, the Theatre teacher’s room. Regan is also the sponsor of the club. At meetings the club members poor out there hearts in written verses or simply unload their problems to the fellow group members. To further challenge the individuals as writers, they are given topics on which they must creatively express in their own unique perspectives.
After a person presents their poetry, and in some cases groups/partners, the floor is open for criticism. The members constructively criticize the writer to help them improve, or they simply praise the piece.
“I can honestly say that P.O.P.P.I.N has changed my life,” said Cierra, “A lot of people come to P.O.P.P.I.N. because they can release all their feelings without anyone judging them.”
“I joined (P.O.P.P.I.N.) because poetry has always been a form of expression to me, my personal channel of emotion,” said Najwa,who lost her mother last September and her father in June 2004.
“I can honestly say that P.O.P.P.I.N has changed my life,” states Cierra, “A lot of people come to P.O.P.P.I.N. because they can release all their feelings without anyone judging them.”
Cierra also speaks of P.P.P. or Poets Promise of Privacy. “This is an oath taken by the members so that nothing stated in this room leaves this room.”
“I joined [P.O.P.P.I.N.] because poetry has always been a form of expression to me. My personal channel of emotion.” said Najwa, who lost her mother last September and her father in June 2004.
She spoke of the support she receives from her club members. “As a person, when people show you generosity and love, that grows on you.”
At the news of her mother’s passing, the club organized a meeting that was completely dedicated to Najwa. The members wrote poems about Najwa, sang songs, spoke from their hearts, and free-styled at this dedicational meeting (all planned secretly).
At a recent school poetry slam, 17 year old, senior Tachele Anderson won first place and will compete at a Grizzlies game against other schools. She spoke of how P.O.P.P.I.N. has changed her for the better. “I could barely speak last year,” said Tachele, “Just watching my fellow club members was inspiration to me, especially Najwa.”
Last year, Briyanna Evans, currently a junior, competed at the Grizzlies poetry slam, and won first prize.