TORONTO – When Sisters Speak, ya’ll better listen.
In its 23rd year, When Sisters Speak is a long-running showcase of Black women sharing their stories through spoken word poetry. On February 11, six incredibly talented Black women took to the Harbourfront stage in downtown Toronto to share stories of joy, accomplishment, love, and grief.
The stage was taken over by six powerhouse poets: Desiree McKenzie, Truth Is… , Shanelle Gabriell, Sydellia Ndiaye, Roya Marsh, and MasterPiece who spoke their truths in the most beautiful way.
The artists did not hold back from diving into raw experiences like surviving domestic violence, deaths caused by police brutality, and the epidemic of skin bleaching. They also shared stories of satisfaction and sexuality, motherhood, and what it means to be joyously alive.
Dwayne Morgan: When Sisters Speak Curator
After the show, we had the chance to catch up with Dwayne Morgan, Toronto poet, and curator of When Sisters Speak. On Saturday night, the audience’s excitement was palpable.
“There was an excitement because it was the first time back in person since 2019,” Morgan shared with The Brandon Gonez Show, adding that in addition to the audience’s joy, the artists were eager to be back onstage.
Morgan explained that in the 23 years that he has been curating the show, When Sisters Speak has always been a hit. He believes that is due to the unique nature of the content.
“There aren’t a lot of opportunities for Black women to be onstage by themselves,” Morgan said, explaining that the artists who perform at the annual performance benefit from having this unique platform, while women in the audience have the unique experience of seeing their ideas and stories shared by people on the stage.
Sisters Changing the Narrative
“In general people love it. They said they felt seen, they felt heard, they’ve cried, they’ve thought about things differently.”
He also shared that every year, he organizes shows like When Sisters Speak to help change the narrative around Black stories.
“There’s a huge narrative that the Black experience is rooted in trauma,” Morgan explained, adding that there is so much Black joy that needs to be shared and seen. This is a theme that many of Saturday night’s performers delved into with their pieces.
“We have always been a joyous people. Despite the fact that other people have brought trauma into our space.”
“I think it’s important to have this kind of platform where Black women can speak unapologetically… The stereotype of angry Black women doesn’t exist in the [When Sisters Speak] space, it’s just Black women being themselves,” Morgan explained, adding that the show works to challenge the stereotype that Black women are only one way.
“There are multiple ways that you can exist in the world,” Morgan said.
When asked about the importance of spoken word performances, Morgan said he wants to encourage people to listen to each other.
“We [need to] get into the practice of listening to each other. It’s so easy to be conditioned by media, and news. But the greatest education and learning, outside of travel, comes from communication.”
Have you ever attended When Sisters Speak? Let us know in the comments!
