One Book One Chicago: “We Build Ourselves Up Together”
Date Posted : October 29th, 2010
10.28.10 | Last time on StudentSpeak, teens at YOUmedia, the Chicago Public Library’s digital space for teens, created innovative new media projects based on Toni Morrison’s most recent novel, “A Mercy.” This week, StudentSpeak is there as the students showcase their work in front of a crowd of educators, parents and their peers at the Chicago Public Library. “We have a bond, and we build ourselves up together,” says Zoi a 15-year-old spoken word poet who performed original adaptations of Morrison’s work based on themes of racism and slavery. Zoi said the project was important to her because of the cohesiveness of the group of teen writers and performers from all across the city, and because of YOUmedia’s mentors.
“This poem took me two weeks, first attempt,” Zoi said. “The mentors we have here are so dope, Jennifer especially. She really helped me put this piece together to be the best that it could be.”