http://youtube.com/watch?v=wD-UpHlB9no
Julian Curry
He begins with his head down, and stroking his chin, as if encouraging thought or composing himself before his performance. To then look up and address the crowd with a loud positive and direct voice.
He launches into the poem with a start that may not work as well on page but leads into his poem well. It is certainly for performance, and instantly engages the audience into the poem. The first time he addresses the crowd- there are laughs and mumbles, as the audience are unsure of how to respond, but he is confident in his actions to ask again- which the crowd respond better to. To then state straight away “that was a trick question” – humorous and witty, also leads on well to the poem.
When referring to the trick question and the tricky ones, he takes a step back and begins waving his hands in a swirling motion. This appears subconscious and as if it is to help the rhythm of his words. I think referring to the trick and the tricky ones is for the performance, as he is able to directly address the audience but this would not be appropriate in all circumstance.
“Nigger’s been past through our families” here his hands are out of shot but he uses his hands by pulling them back. The cancer simile emphasises the inheritance but also gives it a conation of pain, which he shows with his eyes closed, his body bouncing and raised vocals when saying cancer. “It use to be said by slave masters” his hands come out, and pointedly, as if pushing out into the audience. “Who weren’t into the business of breeding and dancing -niggers- they only wanted good old feel niggers” here he uses his body well, to show dancing, but there is not to much movement, as this would distract the audience from the poem. His movement to show the dancing was in his shoulders, neck and hips, keeping his feet planted. Then referring to what ‘they only wanted’ he voice changes, expressing the harsh reality with despair. His arms and should come up and over to show the “feel niggers” – but what does this term feel niggers mean? I think it maybe a refer to the pain of being beaten and having to ‘work’ rigorously there for they would not try to complain or fight for their rights as a human being. He pauses after saying this, I feel he could have held that pause for a little longer just to allow the feeling for the feeling of what he was saying to have a slightly longer / stronger impact – as then he moves onto a new subject, one of how the “feel niggers would feel” seeing the word nigger being used today. When this is said it is said with passion – as with the entire poem, it is actually more or less a similar tone to how the rest of the poem is said, and the movement of his body I feel is not necessary it acts as a slight distraction. But on the contrary, all of these slight movements and very slight pauses he has is his rhythm, which does add to the poem. It helps the feel of frustration and anger, but these emotions could be better felt through silences after important lines or words and a greater variation in tone. To me, this feels as if it could be a rap- possibly is a rap. His hand stretches out- as if doing the notion of feeling, and neck jerks as if in complete agreement with himself, and honestly wondering. I thought he was using his extended arm to show being on the A’ train, but it extended upwards, then his fingers sprung out with “approximately three o’clock”. It is probably impulsive, or an action he was meaning to do, but was not timed right. I often do impulsive movements, it is not something I want to tame, but it is something I remain aware of, I think when reciting a written poem it is good if one can restricted their movements, to when necessary, as this is exactly what has been with their written text, and as in this case one can complement the other and can also become confusing if not concise and seen in the same vein (in terms of expression) as the written text.
“With any day of the week” his expression is not clear, but he screws his face up, his vocal tone increases and he shakes his extended arm; this is done as if in disbelief and despair. He then uses his hands to show “great great grandson” – it suggests the notion of a ‘grandson’ being a little child, which is not true in all cases but for his emphasis of the anguish in the poem it is okay. When talking of the places he moves a little to much and does not need as much and movements, as with “the word that made black families pack up from the south and move north” if said with the same passion and vigour, but less movement, and then aloud for the audience to clap, to then begin again it would have showed greater control- and gain a higher level of attention, as there would have been a slight pause. Consequently this is difficult to suggest and do, as this energy that he has is being stimulated in part from his movement. Though, “would he slam…” had a lot of movement before he needed, it showed he had a great deal of energy to release, but also the slight impatience. Showing slamming someone against the wall, is good, as he has created the seen of being on the train and there are children using -nigger- while the great great grandfather is present.
It is important that before he shows the slamming onto the wall he says, “would he slam a couple of these BOYS against the wall”. I was concerned early that referring to a great great grandson as a boy was possibly wrong. But hear you see why it is done. He emphasises boys, and these ‘boys’ maybe grown men in reality but in the context they are boys as they have not considered the compound history, meaning and use of the word, therefore they are boys as they are not thinking of there actions or words.
The position of his body is important, as some of the audience can only see his back, this reduces the impact, and if he was to do the same thing but in the front – instead of to the side, then more could see his expression, which shows hurt and anger. The use of nigger at the end of every line is important as it emphasises the use and the pain, which is also done through “do you know how I was killed – they murdered me with hot rods of steel – now how do you think this makes me feel-”. This is important as it is intense from the energy and anger of the performer, but the content is a powerful image.
Instead of going straight away into the next line, I would have paused for a moment, as that was a powerful part of the poem, and the silence allows the image and words to sink in. By him carrying on with a lower tone it does create a slight contrast with positives and negatives, as he goes on to say “or would he just sit there”. For this to have greater impact and not feel like a rant I feel it could benefit from a change, such as
Or would he just sit there
and listen
silently, like I do
silently, as we all do.
So what do I do?
I go down to Wall Street,
they call it Wall Street
as centuries ago….
The line breaks use of punctuation act as silences. The reason I feel it can benefit from this is it is more concise. Having it as he does it feels as though it takes longer to get to his point. Although by saying silently like white people doe it immediately brings up the racial barrier, which is then crushed by silently like we all do. And by stating why they call it wall street instead of asking if people know is more direct and does not allow for people to wonder into why, although the intensity of his performance and delivery makes it hard to drift, but easier to forget, as it is delivery mostly at one level of expression.
With centuries ago, he turns and uses his arms and body to show this. Making it completely obvious and certain it was a long time ago. They rhythm and rhyming of “down on the street, slaves with shackles on there feet, were there to be bought and sold by the fleet shares of Intel” is handled well and emphasised by the pauses and dragging of syllables and words. He uses his voice well with “where’s my niggers …” as this emphasises the change in character, but the original use of the word. There is a distinct difference in the two characters referring to his niggers, this is done mainly through accent and tone of voice, but the manner in which he carries himself. As the first character – the slave master – had a southern accent but an earnest and contained manner. Where as the ‘street’ nigger, is a confident, less laboured New York accent, with a laid back manner. While talking about who should be blamed he uses his hands and neck as if he is rapping, I think this is understandable as this is said very rhythmically as if it is part of a rap to music. It is also apt as he is talking about some of the instigators of the culture that uses nigger and the music.
Saying what he hopes the poem is making the listener do I do not like as is subjects a type of listener, also I feel once it is suggested its impact is not the same, when I heard this part of the poem I did not feel that at all but it made me aware that is not what I am doing and I did not think that was the point of the poem. I certainly like the rhythm it was delivered in, and the way it lead up to the “I got to go now…” and the movement, the showing of he has to go was controlled, sharp and concise. The ending is strong and more of a rap, and had great energy.
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