The Black History Poetry Slam & Open Mic is a celebration of Black history, culture, and creativity through spoken word, poetry, and performance. The Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities seeks performers whose work honors Black voices, stories, and experiences in a way that is reflective, empowering, and celebratory. Selected performers will be invited to share their work live at the poetry slam & open mic event on Saturday, February 21 at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St, Alexandria, VA 22314). Multicultural perspectives are welcome, but all submissions must be Black history–focused in theme or content. Interested performers must be at least 16 years old to submit.
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, January 21
Submission Guidelines
Performances must be 3–5 minutes in length (5 minutes max)
Submissions should reflect and celebrate Black history, culture, or lived experience
Profane or obscene language is not permitted
No live bands
A DJ, microphones, and small sound system will be provided
If using music, tracks must be submitted in advance for DJ cueing
Multicultural acts are encouraged
Submitted video clips should be 1:30–3:00 minutes and represent what you plan to perform live