Cinematic Intersections (Get Out): Waking Up & Getting Out: “Dear Academy” A Poetry Open Mic Town Hall

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

This session stresses the imperative to create space for scholars to truthfully and openly “speak to the academy” (the system, their colleagues, their students, executive leaders, and even themselves) and accept the creative license to demand for educational responsibility. In this way, to “get out” is not to leave the academy, but rather to walk away from cultures of fear; to depart from practices of conformity; and to refuse to work in silent compliance. Infused with the energy of an open mic, this session will be enacted as a performance space. Through creative performances and co-construction of knowledge between audience and artist, this high-energy format is designed to disrupt conventions that pressure scholars to adhere to respectability politics. The internationally acclaimed spoken word poem "Dear Academy" featuring Drs. Crystal Leigh Endsley and Tony Keith, Jr., will open the session, followed by the featured performers who will share their experiences in higher education. Dr. P. Thandi Hicks Harper will facilitate a dialogue on the necessity of collaboration and knowledge of self as critical tools of social responsibility. Finally, the audience will be invited to generate poetry and to perform in response to a creative prompt.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chairs

• Crystal Leigh Endsley Taylor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Tony Keith, Tony Keith Jr LLC

Participants

• Jonathan Cox, University of Central Florida

• Lauren Leigh Kelly, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education

• Ian Levy, Manhattan College

• Donovan Albert Livingston, Wake Forest University

• Justis Lopez, The University of Pennsylvania

• Sacharja Cunningham, Hamilton College

• Halimah Kihulo, John Jay College

• Christine Feliciano, John Jay College

Discussant

• P. Thandi Hicks Harper, Youth Popular Culture Institute, Inc.