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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/41441/full/41441/spoken-word-artist-wows-at-inside-the-activists-studio/ <br /><br /> <b>Spoken word artist wows at ‘Inside the Activists’ Studio’</b> <br /> Monday, February 22, 2010 | by stacey palevsky <br /><br /><p>I was mesmerized.</p> <p>In front of me stood a young guy, mid-20s, who appeared comfortable in his own skin. I was mesmerized the moment he opened his mouth to share his poetry with the audience at <a href="/blog/full/41369/come-inside-the-activists-studio-this-sunday/">"Inside the Activists' Studio,"</a> Feb. 21 at the <a href="http://www.thecjm.org">Contemporary Jewish Museum.</a></p> <p><img align="left" alt="josh_healey_300" height="300" hspace="5" src="/images/uploads/blog_art/0110/josh_healey_300.jpg" title="josh_healey_300" vspace="5" width="222" />The poet: <a href="http://joshhealey.org/">Josh Healey</a>. He grew up in a rough neighborhood of Washington, D.C. in a Jewish family that had Shabbat dinners every Friday night. He has lived in Oakland for the past 18 months. He works at <a href="http://www.youthspeaks.org">Youth Speaks</a>, a literary arts organization for kids and teenagers. The Jewish poet was invited to speak at J. Street's first annual convention, but then <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1122325.html">disinvited</a> after critics said his progressive opinions "might be offensive" to conference-goers.</p> <p>That may or may not be true, but at the CJM, Healey exhibited no offensive language or viewpoints.</p> <p>His poems had gravity. They had narratives and pulsing emotion and a little bit of humor, which was much appreciated after an hour-long panel discussion with changemakers and social justice leaders about the challenges they face in making their dreams reality.</p> <p>Healey's performance reminded me of the other time I've been exposed to spoken word - in Iowa, of all places. When I worked there, one of my colleagues was a slam poet, and she invited me to several of her performances. She was Cherie at work; on stage, she transformed into <a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2028714560">Chillin' the Conscious Poet</a>, and she, too, mesmerized me with the power of her poems.</p> <p>Healey reminded me of Chillin', even though they look nothing alike. But they both tackled ideas and topics most people are too afraid to bring up in everyday conversation — race, religion, poverty, equality, politics, judgments, prejudice, fear. Just as I was moved years ago by Chillin's captivating rhythms, so too was I inspired by Healey.</p> <p>If you're curious, you can catch Healey at one of two upcoming events:</p> <p>• Thursday, February 25.<strong> <a href="http://sfnoir.org/calendar/in-defense-of-food-a-spoken-word-affair/">In Defense of Food: A Spoken Word Affair</a></strong>. Museum of the African Diaspora. 685 Mission Street, San Francisco. 8:00pm. With Poetri, Kirya Traber, & more. $10-20. <a href="http://sfnoir.org/calendar/in-defense-of-food-a-spoken-word-affair/"></a></p> <p>• Thursday, March 18. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/plea4peacestockton"><strong>Pierced Ear Poetry Slam</strong></a>. Plea for Peace Center. 630 E Weber St, Stockton, CA. 7:00pm. Feature performance. $7.</p> <p> </p>

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