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• SPEAK Café allows room for the art of spoken word, empowerment

SPEAK, standing for Song, Poetry, Expression, Art and Knowledge, Café is an open-mic public space for hip-hop and Black Power expression. Organized and moderated by Aaron Ammons (AA), it happens at the Palette Café of Krannert Art Museum on Sept. 10, Oct. 15 and Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.

buzz: What inspires you in organizing SPEAK Café?

AA: As an artist, when I was approached to be a part of it, the inspiration of it for me was to share my own thoughts and ideas to other people and to have that forum for expression and for social critique is very important for me and the community as well. SPEAK Café became an avenue for me to carry that out.

buzz: How are the three nights on the schedule different from one another?

AA: The sub theme gives people an opportunity to expand their thoughts. There have been times as a host when I look at the subthemes and see different possibilities, but most people come to share themselves without regard to the theme.

buzz: What advantage does spoken word have over other forms of expression?

AA: It’s about being able to actually animate your thoughts. The written word, unless you are very crafty and very skillful, doesn’t often jump off the page. To actually see the person, see their eyes and their emotions, can be very powerful.

buzz: What is something unexpected that has happened at an open-mic night?

AA: There was an occasion where my son, about five or six at the time, signed his name on the list, and when his name came up he shared what he thought he had written on his paper, and it was very inspiring. At the last SPEAK Café we had there was ... a poet and he hadn’t written anything for years. The culture and atmosphere of SPEAK Café brought it out.

buzz: What do you hope SPEAK Café will do for its participants and the community at large?

AA: First, I hope it makes the campus more of a welcoming place for the broader community especially for people who don’t see the campus as theirs. Also, there’s a strength and power that comes to individuals who learn what it is to speak in front of people. Many of the ideas are very profound ... and this has a good impact on people’s lives in the community.