Poet Marco Chin used the current anti-Asian crime wave as inspiration for his poem during the 22nd Annual NYC Teen Poetry Slam. 

"Talk about Kung Flu, but turn around and say you’re joking. Downtrodding on my people, it's so hard not to be self loathing, and so the bigots always thought we were quiet and unspoken,” he declared.

Chin was one of nearly two dozen teen poets who don't shy away from telling it like it is.

What You Need To Know

  • Amanda Gorman put teen poets on the map and after her enormous success at the Inauguration, teens are dreaming bigger and brighter dreams

  • Urban Word NYC champions the voices of New York City youth by providing platforms for critical literacy, youth development and leadership through free and uncensored writing, college preparation and performance opportunities

  • Each year, Urban Word champions the voices of more than 25,000 New York City teens in the art of spoken word poetry
  • The pandemic and a turbulent school year have given teen poets a lot of fresh material as they enter competitions like NYC Teen Poetry Slam

Jellissa Lacon, from Far Rockaway, Queens, shared a personal reflection, and she walked away a winner.

"I don't want to hear that my breath stink — cuz when I write I bleed my heart out — because in my most frustrating moments, I could never bring myself to scream,” she said.

Lacon was one of five winners from the competition.

The 19-year-old college freshman explained how being isolated in her dorm inspired her winning performance.

"The silence was almost deafening and I felt like I was going crazy so I kinda wrote a poem and tried to personify my thoughts in the best way possible,” she said.

Contestant Indra Hernandez says she was inspired by women's rights.

"You say not all men, as if our society isn't a well oiled machine — constantly clean — you benefit from the system even when you dismiss it,” Hernandez said.

For 22 years, Urban Word NYC has been giving young people a platform to share spoken word poetry.

Every spring, the non-profit hosts a sold-out show at the Apollo Theater, but last year it was canceled due to the pandemic.  This was the group's first ever virtual competition.

Shanelle Gabriel is the interim executive Director of Urban Word NYC and says, while the event was virtual, the enthusiasm was very real.

"We know that the young people are not zoomed out. They come to the things they feel passionate and care about. So what better way to celebrate the voices,” Gabriel says.

The meteoric rise of Amanda Gorman after her performance at the Inauguration is a huge inspiration to so many spoken word artists. The national youth poet laureate got her start just like these teens, entering competitions and refining her craft.

Jellissa Lacon says Amanda Gorman is an major inspiration.

"Last year I wasn't thinking that I could strive to be on a platform that big or even have people acknowledge poetry so this is like new to me and seeing her is incredible because it's definitely like you can do this,” she says.

The five winners are: Ayonna Sullivan, Elizabeth Shvarts, Fanta Bello, Shayo Aluko and Jellissa Lacon.

In July, the winners from the Teen Poetry Slam advance to the regionals, and next month the 2021 National Youth Poet Laureate will be named.

To learn more visit https://www.urbanwordnyc.org/