Buffalo Literature: Poet laureate Fareed-Cooke puts focus on our local stars

By Lee Ames

Buffalo Poet Laureate Aitina Fareed-Cooke presented the first screening of Poetically Speaking: Spotlighting Poetic Voices through digital Storytelling and Literary Arts Friday night at the Burchfield Penney Arts Center. 

The film is described as a mini-poetic visual series, produced and directed by Fareed-Cooke. It features some of Buffalo’s poetic stars in Brandon Williamson, Vonetta T. Rhodes, Benjamin Brindise, Yamilla Tate, Robin Lee Jordan, Solar Ingram, and Daytra Amber. 

Yet at the screening Friday, Fareed-Cooke described Poetically Speaking as a “work in progress.” She said she felt that there was never enough content to show the poetic history of the Buffalo area, but it’s a gift to come together. 

Funded independently, this piece showcased a collection of interviews with the poets about their work, their experiences in writing and how they came to find their individual poetic voices: all with the shared desire “to uplift and highlight the beautiful literary scene in our city,” Fareed-Cooke said. 

Interspersed with their poetry, their laughter and the voices of other historical creatives, the film offered an incredible experience to sit and witness the talent of these literary citizens.  

The film features cinematography by Alex Rojé Felix (Earthbound Films) and Luqman Muhammad (22Reform), with photography by Kalvin Booker (Through His Lens Photography). 

This work is just one aspect of Fareed-Cooke’s work. She has accomplished many things throughout her career. The founder of GetFokus’d  Productions in 2014, she is a poet who uses digital storytelling to create social change and to help others find their voices. Along with these many talents, she is a national recording artist under the name A.I. The Anomaly, plus a mother, a community member and a creative who watches from a distance to tell stories with passion. 

Fareed-Cooke talked about her desire to expand the project in time and the reason for keeping herself out of the interviews. She explained that you could see her in between the lines, and that “putting this together is my poetry,” through digital storytelling from “my heart to your ears.” 

After a brief discussion, she called to the stage Rhodes, Brindise and Williamson.  

Each of these individuals is a creative and holds a large part in keeping the poetic world alive in Buffalo, hosting weekly open mics and participating in projects like Poetically Speaking. They had wise words to share with the audience. 

The three spoke about the creative economy in the city and how sharing your work through readings and showing up to support others creates a diverse literary community. It’s all about how you make a village of support through the love of the game, and the game is the art of sharing experiences through poetry. 

“I was hiding within [myself],” Rhodes says when asked about her art of performing. She found her freedom through speaking her own truth, saying that “poetry is life,” which was an energy you could feel reverberating off the walls of the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Auditorium that evening. 

Poetry can bring life back to people and breathes air into the lungs of those looking for their voice. That’s something Williamson felt strongly about when he was asked “where would you be without poetry?”

“I’d be telling other people stories without the confidence to tell my own stories,” he said. 

“I’d be in an awkward, painful silence,” Rhodes added.

RELATED MEDIA: The teaser for Poetically Speaking.

The further the conversation went, the deeper it got. The four poets started to discuss the ideas of conflicted sides, segregation and the metaphorical lines drawn in the sand that sometimes happen within large communities. 

They urged the audience to push through, find their unique space and help create platforms for others to join that hold acceptance above all. We must, as a society of writers, break down barriers and integrate to bring new knowledge into our collective works. 

As Williamson put it, “the more we connect, the more we grow.” 

We must be “open to each other and respect our lived experiences,” Rhodes said. “Love is love.” 

The diversity in our creative communities is what drives us forward. 

Our differences are of value, and we should appreciate them within each other. Through intersectionality, we all have experiences, so we must be present to learn and understand as we teach others and grow to experience this world together. 

“When humans are there, I know I’m going to learn,” said Fareed-Cooke.  

After about an hour of discussion, they turned to the audience, asking for questions and ponderings. 

Four people came forward to ask about their inspirations as writers, their tips for creative block and to thank them for inspiring those of all ages. 

After sitting through the screening and experiencing the individuals on stage, I feel strongly that we must just “be a part of life,” as the talented Rhodes asked. 

Fareed-Cooke said that she hopes to have more screenings forthcoming. She said new showings will be announced at her Creative Arts Strategist website.

Lee Ames is a senior at SUNY Fredonia and an intern with The Buffalo Hive.