BETHLEHEM, Pa.— Local and regional spoken-word poets are poised to drop the mic at a platz near you this week amid the Musikfest festivities.
Zena Goodwin, known by the stage name Lady Z, and a host of fellow poets will perform a series of family-friendly pieces in effort to “get back to their roots” with the group Poets for Justice at The Ice House in Bethlehem on Sunday.
An Easton native with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in criminal justice, Goodwin said her creation of Poets for Justice stemmed from the social unrest following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
She said she attended some local protests and prayer walks, but felt like she should be doing “something more.”
"I think spoken word is important because of the messages it carries. It demonstrates that poetry is not limited to rhyme, a specific rhythm, or style. I'd say it could represent diversity because each artist can approach the same topic, but in their own manner from their own perspective, thus contributing to the beauty and impact of spoken word,"Zena Goodwin
She was encouraged by local artist Kari Holmes, who Goodwin said was “instrumental in pushing me to pursue starting Poets for Justice."
"She connected me with a few local artists and activists to help me clarify my vision and message to be a part of the showcase,” Goodwin said.
"They then set upon organizing an event that spoke more intimately to the moment and the inaugural Poets for Justice event was born."
From then on, her collaborators and fellow poets found her organically over time, with contributors the second year including a partnership with the Friends of the Lehigh University Library and ArtsQuest at Levitt Pavilion, and later Musikfest.
'A journey back to 2020'
This year circles back to those earlier roots, with many of the Poets for Justice’ previous collaborators returning to participate.
Goodwin said the theme of this year's event, "Back to the Beginning," "is a journey back to 2020 when Poets for Justice was born."
"My intention is to remind some of and introduce others to the reason why Poets for Justice came to be, which was to create a safe space for artists to speak out against racial and social injustice, demand change, spread hope, and inspire others.”
Spoken-word poetry is a powerful medium, according to Goodwin, because it confronts topics others won’t touch and gives people a vehicle for understanding themselves and society at large.
"If there's anything I want people to take away from this experience, it would be that words are powerful, words and actions matter, and that they themselves matter and can make a difference in their respective spheres of influence and beyond."Zena Goodwin
“I think spoken word is important because of the messages it carries," she said. "It demonstrates that poetry is not limited to rhyme, a specific rhythm or style.
"I'd say it could represent diversity because each artist can approach the same topic, but in their own manner from their own perspective, thus contributing to the beauty and impact of spoken word."
On those challenges, Goodwin said that through the process, “people come from a place of ignorance or people come wanting to explore themselves.”
“If there's anything I want people to take away from this experience, it would be that words are powerful, words and actions matter, and that they themselves matter and can make a difference in their respective spheres of influence and beyond," she said.
The Poets for Justice “Back to the Beginning” showcase will be at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem.
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