Clarke Central High School Media Specialist Angela Pendley looks at artist Theresa Tha SONGBIRD’S website on Oct. 30. Theresa Tha SONGBIRD, or Thersa Wilson, worked with the CCHS Media Specialists to plan a visit to CCHS on Nov. 11, where she will perform a spoken word poem to select classes in E.B. Mell Auditorium, followed by conducting a poetry workshop for CCHS English department Grace Crumpton’s poetry class. “Seeing (Wilson) perform (is to see) the confidence (of) her to get up there, and it’s just literally her and a microphone. You have to see it to really get it, but (her) stage presence and confidence I think is going to be really inspiring,” Media Specialist Naomi Craver said. “Her poetry is very powerful, and I think that’s going to be really cool to see.” Photo by Sara Stuart
Artist Theresa Tha SONGBIRD will perform a spoken word poem to CCHS students in the E.B. Mell Auditorium before conducting a workshop for poetry students in Room 219 on Nov. 11.
Clarke Central High School Media Specialists Angela Pendley and Naomi Craver have organized a visit from Theresa Tha SONGBIRD, or Theresa Wilson, who will perform a spoken-word poem in the E.B. Mell Auditorium from 10:15-11 a.m. on Nov. 11.
Wilson is a multi-artist, participating in award-winning poetry and songwriting. She is most known for her spoken-word poem and award-winning poetry book for children, both titled “You So Black.” After her performance, Wilson will guide a workshop with CCHS English department teacher Grace Crupton’s Contemporary Literature and Composition class, which focuses on poetry, in Room 219.
“I’m really excited about the performance itself, and I’m excited about Ms. Crumpton’s class getting to work with someone outside of the building, and someone who has been on so many different stages,” Pendley said.
“Hopefully the big takeaway from (the visit) is that you’ll either see yourself in a mirror, like, ‘Oh, I hope I can do that someday,’ or ‘I can see myself continuing to attend that type of event.’”
— Naomi Craver,
CCHS Media Specialist
Wilson’s 45-minute poetry workshop is intended to inspire Crumpton’s poetry students and teach them new poetry skills, including how to begin a poem, which, according to Crumpton, is needed for the class.
“I’m hoping that (the workshop) gives (my students) more of an idea of how to start from scratch,”Crumpton said. “They (try) different styles of poetry and mimicking poems or writing a poem inspired by something that we read. (So), I’m hoping that this will give them more concrete preparation to start from wherever they’re coming from and (create) an original work.”
Wilson’s visit to CCHS is only one part of her dedication to creating accessible art and humanities through school systems across the country for students by performing her poems and sharing her expertise within her work to students.
“Hopefully the big takeaway from (the visit) is that you’ll either see yourself in a mirror, like, ‘Oh, I hope I can do that someday,’ or ‘I can see myself continuing to attend that type of event,’” Craver said. “To have exposure to all sorts of different types of things that you might be interested in doing or seeing in the future, I think it’s gonna be really great.”
