In the Spark episode “Fusion,” listen to Calligraphy of Thought as they create and rehearse new works for a performance at the Oakland Box Theater, celebrating the release of several new albums on the Remarkable Current label. Calligraphy of Thought poets Eman Tai and Cathy Espinoza stand proud and speak from the heart about their personal and political concerns as the tight rhythms of rap and its energy and insistent beat transform the power of their words and demand attention.
Calligraphy of Thought is an East Bay Muslim poetry collective whose members transpose the beauty of expression into spoken word, celebrating what it means to be Muslim. Through its various performance forms, Calligraphy of Thought has rekindled the vital link between Islam and poetry while providing a forum for young artists to voice their opinions and ambitions.
Prompted by the discrimination against Muslims following the events of September 11, Calligraphy of Thought seeks to extend the view of Muslims beyond the political conflicts that pervaded the American media. “I want people to get a sense of how we experience love, friendship and frustrations as well as politics,” says Tai.
Tai, who has been writing poetry for many years, became aware of the absence of Muslims at the poetry slams she attended. Inspired by poet and professor June Jordan, she organized the first Calligraphy of Thought event in Oakland in 1999 to create an atmosphere of spiritual consciousness, to give Muslim artists a platform for their voice and to challenge stereotypes, particularly those of Muslim women. Since Calligraphy of Thought has been around, poetry readings, hip hop, rap and funk events have been held in the East Bay and San Jose for Muslims to make their voices heard in a uniquely American and contemporary way.
Array
Resources
- Array
- Array
- Array
- Array
