‘Bad Poems’ Makes Good

Maven, Black Miami-Dade & O, Miami add to the historical record of art and resistance in Overtown

To see all of the photos from Bad Poems: Poetry of Resistance, Defiance & Dissent, click here. Photos were taken by Passion Ward (she|her).

In the heart of Miami, on an unassuming Thursday evening, multidisciplinary artist, Arsimmer McCoy (she|her) posed a daring question to the audience inside of the dimly lit Red Rooster Pool Hall. Located in Miami’s historic Overtown community–once hailed as the “Harlem of the South”—people cozied next to each other on velvet couches listening intently to McCoy as she asked: 

“What do you defy? And what do you demand?”

The question was the guiding prompt for “Bad Poems: Poetry of Resistance, Defiance & Dissent”, an event presented by Maven Leadership Collective and Black Miami-Dade as part of the O, Miami Poetry Festival. Inspired by a little-known poem written by Langston Hughes, “The Ballad of Sam Solomon”, the event introduced the audience to Hughes’ lyrical writing that documented Black voters in Overtown resisting Miami’s Ku Klux Klan circa 1939. One of the key figures in registering Black voters at that time was Overtown resident Sam B. Solomon.

The poem reads in part,

“The crackers thought
The Ku Klux was tough—
But the Negroes in Miami
Called their bluff.”

Just as Overtown residents resisted white terror and voter suppression tactics more than 80 years ago, on this Thursday evening inside the Red Rooster Pool Hall turned poetic speakeasy, guests were invited to write their own poems of resistance and defiance in the same neighborhood that inspired Langston Hughes to pen a poem spotlighting fearlessness, defiance, and Black personhood. The event was a celebration of poetry and community, and a testament to the enduring spirit of those who dare to speak out and stand up for justice.

“A lot of times we talk about defying, but we also got to talk about the solutions. We have to talk about how do we make it better?” said McCoy. What are the demands? We don’t just want to be getting into an echo chamber, we really want to sit together, we really want to create community.”

Newcomers and regulars to O, Miami’s annual celebration of National Poetry Month sipped signature cocktails while writing and enjoying live music from by King Friday and his band, including a striking rendition of Strange Fruit, a musical narration of what was at stake for people who defied the Klan like Solomon and his neighbors.

“I feel healed after nights and moments like Bad Poems honestly.” said Maven Denise Ghartney (she|her) who is an entrepreneur and attorney focused on social justice issues. “I never realized how on edge I am at times until I get into spaces where I feel safe and seen. It’s so special to be in the company of people who want to learn, and preach the beauty of the resilience of Black people and a love for our community.”

Earlier in the evening, Black Miami-Dade founder and Maven, Nadege Green, took to the stage to ground the audience in the historical significance Black people played in Miami’s founding and Overtown’s lesser known impact on Langston Hughes.

“The very first name on our city’s charter is a Black man,” said Green. “And when I found this poem, maybe six years ago, my original reaction was anger. Anger because I’m a writer from Miami and I had no idea Langston Hughes, the Langston Hughes, wrote a poem about Miami…it’s a reminder if someone as prolific as Langston Hughes can be invisibilized, what does it mean for everyday folks and the stories that we have to tell? And so tonight we resist.”

Dozens of audience members shared their own words of defiance and resistance–some were newer to writing poetrylike acclaimed visual artist Chris Friday (she|her) who felt compelled by the prompt to move beyond her comfort zone. Others brought excerpts from their own poetry collections. Acclaimed poet, Anomaly recited the poetry of Miami legend, Femi Folami-Browne, a crucial member of Miami’s Black Arts Movement, who looked on from the front row in a clear moment of mutual reverence.

Speakers and performers embraced the theme of resistance, delving into the complexities of community, identity, and history. Attendees were transported through vivid storytelling to pivotal moments in Miami’s past. Images of resilience and defiance during Overtown’s early days illuminated a screen showing the enduring spirit of those–often faded from memory–who fought for equality and justice.

Throughout the evening, there was a call to action, urging attendees to engage with initiatives promoting equity, civic engagement, and economic independence.

Throughout the evening, there was a call to action, urging attendees to engage with initiatives promoting equity, civic engagement, and economic independence. As the event drew to a close, there was a palpable sense of purpose and solidarity among participants–a renewed sense of resilience when community comes together. In the words of one speaker, “We will not be erased. We will not be displaced. We will not be disrespected.”