Mari Evans Ted Talk Script: Time

Ted Talk Script : Time: 2+ minutes

Today I’m gonna be talking about a very inspirational poet from the mid 1960s to the early 2000s, Mari Evans. She had many deep poems that helped african-americans a tremendous amount through the time of slavery. Growin’ up in Toledo Ohio, she was educated at her local university which lead her to study fashion. She did write some poems, until she learned about Langston Hughes. He had a huge influence on Evans by supporting her writing, which lead to her creating true to what you believed in poems. They were short lined poems at the time but as times passed, she began publishing her poems, and became a sensation in the Black Arts Movement. For those who don’t know what the Black Arts Movement is, it was a

group of black people, who did what they believed in and spoke up through multiple forms of art (Dance, Music and more). Now here is one of Evans sensational poems from 1970, which spoke for her and all black people. It’s called “I Am A Black Woman”
I am a black woman
the music of my song
some sweet arpeggio of tears
is written in a minor key
and I
can be heard humming in the night
Can be heard
humming
in the night
I saw my mate leap screaming to the sea
and I/with these hands/cupped the lifebreath
from my issue in the canebrake
I lost Nat's swinging body in a rain of tears
and heard my son scream all the way from Anzio
for Peace he never knew....I
learned Da Nang and Pork Chop Hill
in anguish
Now my nostrils know the gas
and these trigger tired fingers
seek the softness in my warrior's beard
I am a black woman
tall as a cypress
strong
beyond all definition still
defying place
and time
and circumstance
assailed
impervious
indestructible
Look
on me and be
renewed
After learning so much about her, she really taught me a lot on how hard it was for black people then. So I decided to create my own poem that speaks for me. It’s titled “I Believe”

I believe that all is well
Although it's hard and it can heal
Till it's over, I’ll fight
For then I shall see all light
All is bad, all is good
Just believe for all the best
Such violence will never live
As it shall die for the sky
I believe

In the end, Evans life and everything she’s done in her life was truly important. Unfortunately, she did pass away just last year, at the age 94. Although she had past, her importance in the Black Arts Movement will always influence people around the globe. What she has done for the black community will always be treasured and strongly remembered.

Thank You (Applause)