Activism Shines Through Creative Arts at Casa Nueva
< < Back toBy: Elise Hammond
Students and members of the Athens community came together to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through the arts at Casa Nueva on January 19.
The lineup of performers, participating in the Creative Arts as Activism social justice themed open mic night, advocated through singing and poetry.
The first act of the night was an Ohio University student, and theater performance major, Alayna Kai Chester.
Inspired by her passion for social justice and the arts, it was Chester’s third time participating in the open mic night.
Chester said singing and the arts is a perfect way to advocate for issues that are important to her.
“I don’t think the entertainment industry has to be safe because no one is going to give up the entertainment industry.” Chester said, “It’s going to always be there, so use it.”
Adrianna Mauzy, another Ohio University senior, feels the same way as Chester. The difference is she weaves her passion for social justice into the short impactful lines of spoken word poetry.
She said speaking the words forces the audience to listen and reflect on the meaning of what is being said, rather than getting caught up in the beat of lyrical songs.
“I guess my poems are about how people are supposed to embrace each other, and the whole message of Dr. King is like we should be brothers and sisters and love each other and live together,” Mauzy said.
Ebony Porter has been the co-coordinator of the Creative Arts as Activism event for the past three years. The night stems from a week-long celebration of the life and legacy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that is put on by the University.
Porter said she joined the Creative Arts as Activism sub-committee because it spoke to her.
“I really enjoy the arts personally and I love that people can express themselves in so many different forms.” Porter said, “Through music, or poetry, you know, that’s social justice because words have power.
Porter plans on serving on the Creative Arts as Activism sub-committee for many more years and hopes that the event can continue to be a forum for social justice expression.
“It just brings attention to issues that people are facing and allows us to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King,” Porter said.
