Poetry Slam - Michigan Tech - March 1, 2008

Amir Sulaiman, a nationally known poet and hip-hop emcee, will host the Spring Poetry Slam "Return of the Slam" Contest Saturday, March 1, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

The Poetry Slam will feature 18 competitors performing original poetry under National Collegiate Poetry Slam rules. Open mic acts will also be performed throughout the night.

Competitors will be judged on a 10-point scale by Betty Chavis, director of outreach and multiethnic programs in Educational Opportunity; humanities graduate student Roxanne Gay; Shalini Suryanarayana, executive director of Educational Opportunity; humanities professor Randy Freisinger; and humanities assistant professor Matt Seigel.

The winning student will be sent to the National Collegiate Poetry Slam competition in April at the University of New Mexico. Other prizes will be awarded.

Originally from Rochester, N.Y., and a devout Muslim, Sulaiman was a freestyle rapper before becoming a poet. His writings were influenced by the Black Arts Movement, the literary and artistic extension of the Black Power Movement of the 1960s and '70s.

Many of his poems were derived from his own experiences, especially from growing up as a Muslim. During his sophomore year at North Carolina A&T, he published his first book of poetry, "Words of Love, Life and Death."

After completing his degree, he moved to Atlanta and self-released his first spoken word album, "Cornerstore Folklore," in 2001. Three years later, Sulaiman gained a national audience on HBO's Def Poetry showcase.

He has since released spoken word albums "Dead Man Walking" and "Broad Daylight." Brooklyn emcee/actor Mos Def brought Sulaiman on his Breed Love Odyssey tour in 2005-06, and on his return, Sulaiman recorded "Like a Thief in the Night," featuring appearances from Mos Def, Dead Prez's M-1 and the Last Poets.

Organizations such as Amnestry International, Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union have used Sulaiman's art and voice to bring life to multiple campaigns dealing with social justice and art.

You can view Sulaiman performing his poem "Danger" on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=WczGIhmaJ_M and "She Said I Prefer a Broken Neck (to a Broken Heart)" at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHnHvgciGmk&feature=related .

The Poetry Slam is sponsored by the National Society of Black Engineers and the Memorial Union Board. Everyone is invited, and admission is $2 at the door.