National Civil Rights Museum’s Drop the Mic Poetry Slam
Finalists Confront Social Issues and Voting
Event is part of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
The National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) is inviting the public to witness impressive young poets and spoken word artists at the NCRM Drop the Mic Poetry Slam event is this Saturday, August 22, at 5 p.m. in the Hooks Hyde Room at the National Civil Rights Museum. The theme of the each original piece is “My Vote, My Freedom” in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
“I was very impressed with the caliber of spoken word artists that submitted their original work to the Poetry Slam this year,” said Faith Morris, the Museum’s Director of Marketing, Governmental and Community Affairs. “We had poets to submit from Milwaukee and Atlanta. This is only year two, and the buzz about the Poetry Slam is growing.”
The semi-finalists are in the following age categories: 14-17, 18-25 and 26-35. Each category will have a first place winner who takes home $1,000, and the second place winner will receive $750. All winners will receive family museum membership that includes free admission for a year plus other benefits.
All contestants will have two minutes to perform their original pieces judged by highly respected artists in the open mic, spoken word community: neo-soul vocalist and open mic event host Tonya Dyson; Memphis spoken wordsmith Darius “Phatmak” Clayton; and poet, writer and radio personality Aisha Raison. There will also be performances by the a cappella group Artistik Approach and spoken word artist Ryan Carson.
For more information, visit http://civilrightsmuseum.org/dropthemic/. #MyVoteMyFreedom, #NCRMDropTheMic, #NCRMuseum
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About The National Civil Rights Museum
The NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, located at the historic Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, is the only Museum of its kind in the country that gives a comprehensive overview of the American Civil Rights Movement from 1619 to the present. The Museum is intended to bring the movement to life, place the events in a historical perspective and provide a focus of national remembrance. Since the Museum opened in 1991, close to 5 million visitors from around the world have come, including more than 60,000 students annually. Recognized as a center for civil rights and social change, the Museum is steadfast in its mission to share the culture and lessons from the Movement and explore how this significant era continues to shape equality and freedom globally.
Through interactive exhibits, historic collections, storytelling, dynamic speakers and events, the museum offers visitors a chance to walk through history and learn more about a tumultuous and inspiring period of change. Then, invites you to Join the Movement, take a stand and share your voice on issues that impact our society.
An internationally acclaimed cultural institution, the Museum was recognized as USA Today’s Top 10 Best American Iconic Attractions; Top 10 Best Historical Spots in the U.S. by TLC’s Family Travel; Must See by the Age of 15 by Budget Travel and Kids; Top 10, American Treasures by USA Today; and Best Memphis Attraction by The Commercial Appeal.