How to pronounce "mumble"

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[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

i

i

i have two questions for you one

have two questions for you one

have two questions for you one whose shoulders do you stand on and

whose shoulders do you stand on and

whose shoulders do you stand on and two what do you stand for

two what do you stand for

two what do you stand for these are two questions that i always

these are two questions that i always

these are two questions that i always begin my poetry workshops with students

begin my poetry workshops with students

begin my poetry workshops with students because at times

because at times

because at times poetry can seem like this dead art form

poetry can seem like this dead art form

poetry can seem like this dead art form for like old

for like old

for like old white men who just seem like they were

white men who just seem like they were

white men who just seem like they were born to be old like you know

born to be old like you know

born to be old like you know benjamin button or something and i asked

benjamin button or something and i asked

benjamin button or something and i asked my students these two questions

my students these two questions

my students these two questions and then i share how i answer them which

and then i share how i answer them which

and then i share how i answer them which is in these three sentences that go

is in these three sentences that go

is in these three sentences that go i am the daughter of black writers were

i am the daughter of black writers were

i am the daughter of black writers were descended from freedom fighters who

descended from freedom fighters who

descended from freedom fighters who broke their chains and changed the world

broke their chains and changed the world

broke their chains and changed the world they call me and these are words i

they call me and these are words i

they call me and these are words i repeat in a mantra before

repeat in a mantra before

repeat in a mantra before every single poetry performance in fact

every single poetry performance in fact

every single poetry performance in fact i was like doing it in the corner over

i was like doing it in the corner over

i was like doing it in the corner over there i was like making faces um

there i was like making faces um

there i was like making faces um and so i repeat them to myself as a way

and so i repeat them to myself as a way

and so i repeat them to myself as a way to gather myself because i'm not sure if

to gather myself because i'm not sure if

to gather myself because i'm not sure if you know

you know

you know but public speaking is pretty terrifying

but public speaking is pretty terrifying

but public speaking is pretty terrifying um i know i'm on stage and i have my

um i know i'm on stage and i have my

um i know i'm on stage and i have my heels

heels

heels i look all glam but i'm horrified um

i look all glam but i'm horrified um

i look all glam but i'm horrified um and the way in which i kind of

and the way in which i kind of

and the way in which i kind of strengthen myself

strengthen myself

strengthen myself is by having this mantra most of my life

is by having this mantra most of my life

is by having this mantra most of my life i was particularly terrified of speaking

i was particularly terrified of speaking

i was particularly terrified of speaking up because i had a speech impediment

up because i had a speech impediment

up because i had a speech impediment which made it difficult to pronounce

which made it difficult to pronounce

which made it difficult to pronounce certain letters

certain letters

certain letters sounds and i felt like i was fine

sounds and i felt like i was fine

sounds and i felt like i was fine writing on the page

writing on the page

writing on the page once i got on stage i was worried my

once i got on stage i was worried my

once i got on stage i was worried my words might jumble and stumble what was

words might jumble and stumble what was

words might jumble and stumble what was the point

the point

the point in trying not to mumble these thoughts

in trying not to mumble these thoughts

in trying not to mumble these thoughts in my head if everything's already been

in my head if everything's already been

in my head if everything's already been said

said

said before but finally i had a moment of

before but finally i had a moment of

before but finally i had a moment of realization

realization

realization where i thought if i choose not to speak

where i thought if i choose not to speak

where i thought if i choose not to speak out of fear

out of fear

out of fear then there's no one that my silence is

then there's no one that my silence is

then there's no one that my silence is standing for

standing for

standing for and so i came to realize that i cannot

and so i came to realize that i cannot

and so i came to realize that i cannot stand standing to the side

stand standing to the side

stand standing to the side standing silent i must find the strength

standing silent i must find the strength

standing silent i must find the strength to speak

to speak

to speak up and one of the ways i do that is

up and one of the ways i do that is

up and one of the ways i do that is through this mantra where i call back to

through this mantra where i call back to

through this mantra where i call back to what i call

what i call

what i call honorary ancestors these are people who

honorary ancestors these are people who

honorary ancestors these are people who might not be related to you by blood

might not be related to you by blood

might not be related to you by blood or by birth but who are more than worth

or by birth but who are more than worth

or by birth but who are more than worth saying their names

saying their names

saying their names because you stand on the shoulders all

because you stand on the shoulders all

because you stand on the shoulders all the same and it's only from the height

the same and it's only from the height

the same and it's only from the height of these shoulders that we might have

of these shoulders that we might have

of these shoulders that we might have the sight to see the mighty power

the sight to see the mighty power

the sight to see the mighty power of poetry the power of language made

of poetry the power of language made

of poetry the power of language made accessible accessible poetry

accessible accessible poetry

accessible accessible poetry is interesting because not everyone is

is interesting because not everyone is

is interesting because not everyone is going to become

going to become

going to become a great poet but anyone can be and

a great poet but anyone can be and

a great poet but anyone can be and anyone can enjoy poetry

anyone can enjoy poetry

anyone can enjoy poetry and it's this openness this

and it's this openness this

and it's this openness this accessibility of poetry that

accessibility of poetry that

accessibility of poetry that makes it the language people poetry has

makes it the language people poetry has

makes it the language people poetry has never been the language barriers it's

never been the language barriers it's

never been the language barriers it's always been

always been

always been the language of bridges and it's this

the language of bridges and it's this

the language of bridges and it's this connection making that makes

connection making that makes

connection making that makes poetry yes powerful but also makes it

poetry yes powerful but also makes it

poetry yes powerful but also makes it political one of the things that

political one of the things that

political one of the things that irritates me to no end is when i get

irritates me to no end is when i get

irritates me to no end is when i get that phone call and it's usually from a

that phone call and it's usually from a

that phone call and it's usually from a white man

white man

white man and he's like man amanda we love your

and he's like man amanda we love your

and he's like man amanda we love your poetry we'd love to get you to write a

poetry we'd love to get you to write a

poetry we'd love to get you to write a poem about this subject but don't

poem about this subject but don't

poem about this subject but don't make it political which to me

make it political which to me

make it political which to me sounds like i have to draw a square but

sounds like i have to draw a square but

sounds like i have to draw a square but not make it a rectangle

not make it a rectangle

not make it a rectangle or like build a car and not make it a

or like build a car and not make it a

or like build a car and not make it a vehicle it doesn't make much sense

vehicle it doesn't make much sense

vehicle it doesn't make much sense because all art is political

because all art is political

because all art is political the decision to create the artistic

the decision to create the artistic

the decision to create the artistic choice to have a voice

choice to have a voice

choice to have a voice the choice to be heard is the most

the choice to be heard is the most

the choice to be heard is the most political act of all

political act of all

political act of all and by political i mean poetry is

and by political i mean poetry is

and by political i mean poetry is political at least

political at least

political at least three ways one what stories we tell

three ways one what stories we tell

three ways one what stories we tell when we're telling them how we're

when we're telling them how we're

when we're telling them how we're telling them if we're telling them

telling them if we're telling them

telling them if we're telling them why we're telling them so so much about

why we're telling them so so much about

why we're telling them so so much about the political beliefs we have about

the political beliefs we have about

the political beliefs we have about what types of stories matter secondly

what types of stories matter secondly

what types of stories matter secondly who gets to have those stories told i'm

who gets to have those stories told i'm

who gets to have those stories told i'm talking who is legally allowed to read

talking who is legally allowed to read

talking who is legally allowed to read who has the resources to be able to

who has the resources to be able to

who has the resources to be able to write who are we reading in our

write who are we reading in our

write who are we reading in our classrooms

classrooms

classrooms says a lot about the political and

says a lot about the political and

says a lot about the political and educational systems

educational systems

educational systems that all these stories and storytellers

that all these stories and storytellers

that all these stories and storytellers exist in

exist in

exist in lastly poetry is political because it's

lastly poetry is political because it's

lastly poetry is political because it's preoccupied with people

preoccupied with people

preoccupied with people if you look in history notice that

if you look in history notice that

if you look in history notice that tyrants often go after the poets and the

tyrants often go after the poets and the

tyrants often go after the poets and the creatives first they burn

creatives first they burn

creatives first they burn books they try to get rid of poetry in

books they try to get rid of poetry in

books they try to get rid of poetry in the language arts

the language arts

the language arts because they're terrified of them poets

because they're terrified of them poets

because they're terrified of them poets have this

have this

have this phenomenal potential to connect the

phenomenal potential to connect the

phenomenal potential to connect the beliefs of the

beliefs of the

beliefs of the private individual with the cause of

private individual with the cause of

private individual with the cause of change of the public

change of the public

change of the public the population the polity the political

the population the polity the political

the population the polity the political movement and when you leave here i

movement and when you leave here i

movement and when you leave here i really want you to try to hear

really want you to try to hear

really want you to try to hear the ways in which poetry is actually at

the ways in which poetry is actually at

the ways in which poetry is actually at the center

the center

the center on our most political questions about

on our most political questions about

on our most political questions about what it means to be a democracy

what it means to be a democracy

what it means to be a democracy maybe later you're going to be at a

maybe later you're going to be at a

maybe later you're going to be at a protest and someone's gonna have a

protest and someone's gonna have a

protest and someone's gonna have a poster that says

poster that says

poster that says they buried us but they didn't know we

they buried us but they didn't know we

they buried us but they didn't know we were seeds

were seeds

were seeds that's poetry you might be in your u.s

that's poetry you might be in your u.s

that's poetry you might be in your u.s history class and your teacher may play

history class and your teacher may play

history class and your teacher may play a video

a video

a video of martin luther king jr saying we will

of martin luther king jr saying we will

of martin luther king jr saying we will be able to hew

be able to hew

be able to hew out of this mountain of despair a stone

out of this mountain of despair a stone

out of this mountain of despair a stone of hope

of hope

of hope that's poetry or maybe even here in new

that's poetry or maybe even here in new

that's poetry or maybe even here in new york city you're going to go visit the

york city you're going to go visit the

york city you're going to go visit the statue of liberty where there's a sonnet

statue of liberty where there's a sonnet

statue of liberty where there's a sonnet that declares as americans

that declares as americans

that declares as americans give us you're tired you're poor your

give us you're tired you're poor your

give us you're tired you're poor your huddled masses

huddled masses

huddled masses yearning to be free so you see when

yearning to be free so you see when

yearning to be free so you see when someone asks me to write a poem

someone asks me to write a poem

someone asks me to write a poem that's not political what they're really

that's not political what they're really

that's not political what they're really asking me is to not ask

asking me is to not ask

asking me is to not ask charged and challenging questions in my

charged and challenging questions in my

charged and challenging questions in my poetic work

poetic work

poetic work and that does not work because poetry is

and that does not work because poetry is

and that does not work because poetry is always at the pulse

always at the pulse

always at the pulse of the most dangerous and the most

of the most dangerous and the most

of the most dangerous and the most daring questions that a nation

daring questions that a nation

daring questions that a nation or world might face what path

or world might face what path

or world might face what path do we stand on as a people and what

do we stand on as a people and what

do we stand on as a people and what future

future

future as a people do we stand for and the

as a people do we stand for and the

as a people do we stand for and the thing about

thing about

thing about poetry is that it's not really about

poetry is that it's not really about

poetry is that it's not really about having the right answers it's about

having the right answers it's about

having the right answers it's about asking

asking

asking these right questions about what it

these right questions about what it

these right questions about what it means to be

means to be

means to be a writer doing right by your words and

a writer doing right by your words and

a writer doing right by your words and your actions

your actions

your actions and my reaction is to pay honor to those

and my reaction is to pay honor to those

and my reaction is to pay honor to those shoulders of people who use those pens

shoulders of people who use those pens

shoulders of people who use those pens to roll over boulder so i might have a

to roll over boulder so i might have a

to roll over boulder so i might have a mountain of hope

mountain of hope

mountain of hope on which to stand so that i might

on which to stand so that i might

on which to stand so that i might understand the power of telling stories

understand the power of telling stories

understand the power of telling stories that matter no matter what

that matter no matter what

that matter no matter what so that i might realize that if i choose

so that i might realize that if i choose

so that i might realize that if i choose not out of fear

not out of fear

not out of fear but out of courage to speak then there's

but out of courage to speak then there's

but out of courage to speak then there's something unique that my words can

something unique that my words can

something unique that my words can become

become

become and all of a sudden that fear that my

and all of a sudden that fear that my

and all of a sudden that fear that my words my jumble and stumble

words my jumble and stumble

words my jumble and stumble go away as i'm humbled by the thoughts

go away as i'm humbled by the thoughts

go away as i'm humbled by the thoughts of thousands of stories a long time

of thousands of stories a long time

of thousands of stories a long time coming that i know

coming that i know

coming that i know are strumming inside me as i celebrate

are strumming inside me as i celebrate

are strumming inside me as i celebrate those people in their time who stood up

those people in their time who stood up

those people in their time who stood up so this little black girl could vine

so this little black girl could vine

so this little black girl could vine as i celebrate and call their names all

as i celebrate and call their names all

as i celebrate and call their names all the same these people

the same these people

the same these people who seemed like they were just born to

who seemed like they were just born to

who seemed like they were just born to be bold

be bold

be bold maya angelou and ozaki shanghai phyllis

maya angelou and ozaki shanghai phyllis

maya angelou and ozaki shanghai phyllis wheatley

wheatley

wheatley lucille clifton gwendolyn brooks joan

lucille clifton gwendolyn brooks joan

lucille clifton gwendolyn brooks joan wicks audrey lord and so

wicks audrey lord and so

wicks audrey lord and so many more it might feel like every story

many more it might feel like every story

many more it might feel like every story has been told before but the truth is

has been told before but the truth is

has been told before but the truth is no one's ever told my story in the way i

no one's ever told my story in the way i

no one's ever told my story in the way i would tell it

would tell it

would tell it as the daughter of black writers who

as the daughter of black writers who

as the daughter of black writers who were descended from freedom fighters who

were descended from freedom fighters who

were descended from freedom fighters who broke their chains and changed the world

broke their chains and changed the world

broke their chains and changed the world they call me i call them and one day

they call me i call them and one day

they call me i call them and one day i'll write a story right

i'll write a story right

i'll write a story right by writing it into tomorrow on this

by writing it into tomorrow on this

by writing it into tomorrow on this earth

earth

earth more than worth standing for