Slam (1998)
Directed by
SHOWTIMES
Thu 3/21: 7:40p
RELEASE DATE
3/22/24
RATING
R
RUN TIME
1hr 40m
Join us for this one-night-only screening of Slam, Sundance & Cannes winner in recognition of World Poetry Day.
We are privileged to welcome our community partner, the Justice Arts Coalition, as they join us to share insights into their programs dedicated to amplifying the creative voices of individuals most affected by mass incarceration. Additionally, there will be resources available for those interested in connecting with and learning from incarcerated artists.
- BEFORE THE FILM -
We are privileged to have Phetote Mshairi (poet; author; publisher at New Greenwood, LLC) in attendance for a short introduction before Slam.
- ABOUT THE FILM -
Ray Joshua (Saul Williams), a talented black poet from the Washington, D.C., projects, is arrested on petty drug charges and thrown into the black hole that is the D.C. jail. There he meets the two people who can redirect his life: a prison gang leader and a beautiful female poet teaching a self-expression class for inmates.
- ABOUT JAC -
Justice Arts Coalition (JAC) unites teaching artists, arts advocates, artists who are or have been incarcerated and their allies, harnessing the transformative power of the arts to reimagine justice. Through the sharing of resources, stories, and learning opportunities, JAC is building a nationwide collective of people who are committed to increasing opportunities for creative expression in carceral settings, amplifying the voices of those most impacted by mass incarceration, and shaping public dialogue around the intersection of the arts and justice. JAC has remained a grassroots project throughout its recent transformation into a national 501c3 nonprofit organization.
- ABOUT PHETOTE MSHAIRI -
Phetote (Fee toh tee) Mshairi (Em shah ee ree) is a poet; author; publisher at New Greenwood, LLC; interdisciplinary artist and Alumni in Residence at Tulsa Artist Fellowship; fellow with Tulsa Artist Fellowship (2021-2023); vice-chairman of the poetry committee at Living Arts of Tulsa; Greenwood Art Project artist; and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from Tulsa, OK. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Langston University. He is the editor and publisher of RELEASE ME, the Spirits of Greenwood Speak anthology; author/publisher of An Old Fart and a Thousand Sentiments; and author/publisher of publications in the works from children’s books to an anthology advocating various forms of literacy called Tulsa Artist Fellows Inciting: LITERACY. He has curated (and co-curated) over 180 poetry and performing arts events. He has performed in over 500 live multidisciplinary art events. Phetote is also a mentor with 100 Black Men of Tulsa, literacy advocate, community activist, poetry slam champion, copywriter, songwriter, host, actor, keynote speaker, and perpetual learner.
Ever since Phetote could form sentences, he’s been sentenced to a life of making sense of life by translating sentiments into rhythmic sentences. Phetote Mshairi writes and speaks for those at a loss for words.