By Sara Ali
(Image above: A poetry slam at the Em Tea Coffee Cup)

Excitement rises, but the crowd gradually falls quiet. Even in silence, the room feels loud with anticipation, and tensions rise.  The performer on stage has their head down and eyes glued to the ground as they inhale deeply. They lift their head and make eye contact with the crowd. 

In a few seconds, the poet speaks, the crowd snaps, and energy fills the room.

If you’ve ever been to a Pure Ink poetry slam, you can hear this experience shout off your screen. If you haven’t, you’ll have to attend one to understand.

A poetry slam is a competitive event that combines theatre and storytelling. Poets take the stage, performing their work for a crowd, aiming for the highest score — and a cash prize

But it’s not just about the financial win. Motivation varies for everyone.  For some, it’s an opportunity to express themselves in a way that resonates with the audience. For others, it’s a serious competition that demands commitment — though self-expression and competition often go hand in hand.

For Pure Ink founder Brandon Williamson, the slams end up being a way for poets to challenge each other. “What often happens at slams is poets are doing poems for other poets,” he said. According to Williamson, poets crafting response poems was the original intention of Pure Ink slams. It’s a way for them to build a community of poets who give constructive feedback to one another.

In addition, the goal is also for “poets to find their voice and get comfortable in that voice.”

Pure Ink was created in 2012 by Williamson with immense support from Bianca L. McGraw, a multimedia artist, poet and educator. Williamson said he intended for Pure Ink to be “just a slam,” but with the help of McGraw, who has since moved onto other endeavors, it grew into something much bigger.

“Bianca was a big force in that. She grew Pure Ink into a brand. As we worked it out and built it together, my goal now is to maintain the same standard she previously set us at,” Williamson said.

Aside from the slam and open mic, Williamson created the Pure Ink Tapings, a live spoken word concert featuring both poets and musicians. The first one was hosted in October of 2024 and the most recent one in December.  Williamson said the Tapings will become a “premium episodic show” marketed on a national scale.

“I think the poets we have here in Buffalo are worthy of being spread across the world,” he said. The platforms these episodes will live on are still in the works.

Williamson said he hopes for Pure Ink to become self-sustaining and continue to be a place where poets find their voice and grow. “I want them to build and grow on their own,” he said. “Pure Ink was always meant to be a gateway, not a destination.”

During our conversation, we talked about Buffalo’s ability to become a destination for poetry — especially with our thriving community that continues to flourish. However, Williamson pointed out some of the challenges.

“It’s expensive to get to Buffalo because we’re not near anything. Our scene has been isolated for quite some time and the closest slam scenes to us are in Canada.”

Although our geography is a barrier, it hasn’t prevented local poets from becoming known in other areas. One example is Yamilla Tate who has competed in slams across the border.

If you haven’t had a chance to attend a slam, you’re in luck. Pure Ink Poetry hosts monthly open mic and slam events typically at Ujima Theatre on Buffalo’s West side or at the Em Tea Coffee Cup Cafe on Oakgrove Avenue.

On Sunday (March 2, 2025), they’ll host a slam at The Em Tea Coffee Cup. Poet sign-ups begin at 4 p.m., and the slam begins at 4:30.

To keep up with Pure Ink, their upcoming events and the status of the Tapings, you can follow them on Instagram.