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Spoken Word Artists Use Words For Change

NEW ORLEANS DATA NEWS WEEKLY — The artist showcase organized by the International Arts Foundation of New Orleans with the Center for African and African American Studies at Southern University at New Orleans took place on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, at the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Auditorium on the campus.

Published

7 years ago

October 22, 2019

Oakland Post

Michael "Quess?" Moore performs at "A Night of Spoken Word" on Oct. 4, 2019. The event was organized by the Center for African & African American Studies at SUNO in collaboration with the International Arts Foundation of New Orleans. (Photo by: Lacee Ancar)

By Lacee Ancar

The artists needed no introduction.

“I wear an exclamation point as my name,” proclaimed Poet Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, one of the featured performers at “A Night of Spoken Word.”

The artist showcase organized by the International Arts Foundation of New Orleans with the Center for African and African American Studies at Southern University at New Orleans took place on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, at the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Auditorium on the campus.

“This is our first time hosting this event, but we’ve been hosting affairs and programs for quite some time,” said Dr. Clyde Robertson, an Associate Professor of Humanities at SUNO who organized the event. Robertson said the event was part of a series of activities offered by SUNO to engage the community on educational, civic, cultural, and social action. The university will offer upcoming programs in a year-long series featuring keynote speakers from across the African Diaspora. Future events include a celebration of Nigerian Independence, and a Multi-Disciplinary Art Exhibition this month and in November.Nigerian poet Wana “WanaWana” Udobang performs at “A Night of Spoken Word” on Oct. 4, 2019.

The spoken word event celebrated the African Diaspora through poetry and featured spoken word and poetry artists. Jamaican Poet Allan “Mutabaruka” Hope and Nigerian Poet Wana “WanaWana” Udobang, joined New Orleans poets: Chuck Perkins, Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, and Michael “Quess?” Moore. The works of the spoken word artists reflect activist poetry that speaks to the struggles and experiences of people of African descent. They also aim to uplift and empower Black people and connect them to their heritage and dignity.

Moore, who is better known for his stage name, “Quess?” he is a poet and educator from Brooklyn, N.Y., but since moving to New Orleans has been at the forefront of social activism. He is a co-founder of Team SNO, which stands for Slam New Orleans, the first New Orleans Slam Team since Hurricane Katrina. He said he fell in love with the craft of writing at the age of six and was introduced to spoken word at age 10. He said he draws inspiration mostly from everyday injustices that Black people face.

“I was introduced to poetry by way of activism,” Moore said. He tackles this topic from the point of view of a Black man in America, and he said he’s lived experiences naturally provides him with lots to write about.

“I can’t imagine not reacting to injustice through poetry,” Moore said.

Moore said he was inspired by the early nineties Hip Hop influences like the Rap Duo A Tribe Called Quest, which inspired his name. As a young writer, Moore was completely sure of how he wanted to identify himself. So, he merged the word “guess” and “quest” to form “Quess?” because he wasn’t sure where his journey would lead him.

Like Moore, Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes uses spoken word as a form of activism. The New Orleans native who is a poet and educator has been performing since 1997. She has taught the spoken word, social justice, and service-learning at Tulane University. Her pieces are inspired by injustices but from the point of view of Black women. She was a featured on TEDx Women in 2012, for an installment of TED Talks, performing a piece titled, “The Rising,” where she talks about the “innate danger of womanhood.” A second piece called “Chasms” was featured by TED talk in 2018 where she offers uplifting narrative through her poetry. Ecclesiastes said she also likes to write pieces that celebrate the essence of African people.

The power of words to call for action inspired those who attended to use their voices to educate others about their experiences or to uplift a community. Ed’Dijah Bridges, a local singer-songwriter attended the event and is pursuing a major in mathematics at SUNO. Bridges said she related to spoken word the same way she relates to writing and performing music. “It’s the way that you feel about the words you’re singing,” she said of the power of the spoken word.

This article originally appeared in New Orleans Data News Weekly.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

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Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.