A skill acquired by experience, study or observation.
In Merriam-Webster’s words, this is the definition of art. Art comes in many different forms — visual, written and noise. Used to express emotion, many artists use their work to reflect on the political standing of our world.
Aminah Cabral, a junior at UT studying English, first noticed the political standing of the U.S. showing up in her poetry in high school.
“I forget the exact assignment, but I had to write something about what it means to live in America,” Cabral said. “The title of the poem is ‘One,’ and it explores unity in America, and how we, as a society, have strayed so far away from that.”
Half Mexican and half African American, Cabral explains that poetry is a gateway for her to be able to express her identity unapologetically. Jasmine Flowers, a graduate student at UT studying creative writing, says that her poetry also is a way for her to reflect on her identity.
“I’m from Alabama, so the South plays a vital role in how I express myself,” Flowers said.
Flowers explained that she hasn’t always used poetry to express her political viewpoints, but it began showing up in the background of her work in 2020.
“We’re all connected, and we must do our part to stamp out oppression everywhere,” Flowers said. “I want my work to reflect that, but I’m still deciding how I want to achieve that goal responsibly.”
Flowers uses her poetry to discuss topics including race, sexuality and religion.
“I’m always considering how systems of power have influenced my thinking,” Flowers said. “Poetry is a great avenue to explore ideas that challenge these systems.”
Similar to Flowers, Cabral uses her poetry to speak for those who need someone to tell their story.
“Issues relating to immigrants, people of color, women, mental health, sexuality and hate crimes, are topics I feel closest to,” Cabral said.
Leonard Adams, a senior at UT studying English, uses his poetry to reflect on his time spent serving the country in the National Guard and his changing emotions on patriotism, among other aspects. Adams never considered himself a poet until he found the art form to be a useful way to deflect.
“One night, I couldn’t sleep and decided to write a poem,” Adams said. “I ended up writing a haiku about my deployment to D.C. during BLM and another poem kind of venting my frustrations to God.”
Adams found that his views on the political climate changed his writing, allowing him to express himself in a simpler but more meaningful way. Cabral also explained that she feels the same way.
“Writing poetry has made me feel empowered,” Cabral said. “To be able to put your exact feelings and make something beautiful, or something meaningful, or something that encapsulates exactly what someone else is feeling but can’t say, is such a great way to connect to others.”
For Flowers, writing politically focused poetry allows her to recognize the ways in which all areas of her life work together.
“There doesn’t have to be so much separation,” Flowers said. “It’s about being a whole person whose beliefs reach every part of how I live and show up in the world.”
Through their work, Adams, Flowers and Cabral hope to bring awareness to the social issues that matter most to them.
“Poetry is just as capable of spreading influential ideas as a newspaper or political pamphlet,” Flowers said. “That’s why the suppression of the arts is a tactic used by oppressive governments.”
Since 2021, nearly 23,000 books have been banned in the national public school systems. A growing number, books that include race or racism, LGBTQ+ topics and sexual content are predominately targeted. Despite these numbers, Cabral feels that her work still makes a call for action.
“Even if you don’t feel like your poetry has made a difference, it has,” Cabral said. “Any productive way of expressing your opinions makes a difference.”
