CALA-bash: Seniors win top prizes at Poetry Slam
By: JASMINN DOW
Apr 09, 2018
On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, guest artist Kris Johnson and his band play at Claflin University’s CALA-bash during the annual Poetry Slam. (Panther photo by Stephen Anderson)
Videos by Jasminn Dow:
1st place, Krista Bradley: https://youtu.be/sbaNb93VJ6k
2nd place, Briana Williams: https://youtu.be/akHoEttFoSY
Three seniors won the “And All That Jazz” Poetry Slam contest on Wednesday in Ministers’ Hall.
Krista Bradley won first place ($100 prize). Briana Williams won second ($50) and Jasminn Dow won third ($25).
“I'm shocked that I won a place because I didn't plan to perform. ... I came unprepared,” Dow said.
The contest had two rounds. Everyone who signed up competed in the first round.
“I write poetry but never did a spoken word contest,” said Logan Crosby-Chambers, first-round contestant.
The audience rated the contestants’ performance between 1 and 5. The top six with the highest score moved on to round two.
“I enjoyed everyone, even the people who didn't make it,” a student said.
The event was hosted by Mooody Black and the Johnson Jazz Band. Moody Black, a national spoken word champion, performed his poetry during intermission and said he loved Claflin and the effort to appreciate the spoken word.
“Where can I get a Claflin shirt? ... I love you all.”
Spoken word and visual artist Moody Black speaks to Claflin students about the truth behind poetry. (Panther photo by Aliya Byrd)