Name: Cassandra Myers
Hometown: Richmond Hill
Program: CYC
Year: 3
Are you more of a day or night person?
Day
Fill in the blank. My social life is ____________
…..non-existent according to twitter, popping off according to Facebook.
What’s the best advice someone has given to you lately?
It’s never too late to say no.
What’s the best part of living in Toronto?
People, everywhere
How did you discover your talent for spoken word/slam poetry?
When I started winning slams.
What issues do you care about, and make sure you address in your pieces?
Female experiences with race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, girlhood, and womanhood.
Why do you think artists choose spoken word as an outlet for their thoughts, idea, and/or emotions?
Because for 3 minutes, you can say whatever you need to say, and if you say it right, people will hear you.
Who is your favourite spoken word poet and/or performance?
First Ever: Alysia Harris – That girl Current: Danez Smith – Mail Always on Repeat: Bill Moran – Eat your way out
Was there ever a defining moment/event in your spoken word career?
When I won BAM Finals – I knew I was good at this. When I went to CUPSI – I knew I could be so, so much better.
Define Feminism. Are you feminist? Why do you think the term is considered ‘controversial’?
Feminism: Girl of every colour and ability and genitalia. Girl who doesn’t go by girl but sometimes does. Girl who doesn’t always dress like a girl but sometimes will. Girl who was not always a girl but now is a girl. Girl who needs other girls on her team when the boys won’t play fair, or pass to them, or tells them they “can’t”. Girl loves the men and boys in her life. Girl cares about their issues, but girl shouldn’t have to fight for her time at the podium, for funding, shouldn’t be questioned if her experiences are real by boy. Girl doesn’t need a boy to tell our story for us to make it true. Girl needs boys to make room for her to be girl in the “old boys club”. Feminism is the girls only club that’s made when boys deny entrance or won’t change the name of their club to “Everyone”. And when they do, they don’t want a girl be the president or have more than one seat, don’t see the point in offering free tampons or allowing maternity leave, or equal pay, or listening when girl says no. Feminism is intersectional. It is unlearning and learning new. It is necessary. It is needed.
Am I girl? Then I’m feminist. Patriarchy has made it so hard for girls to claim space we are Stokholmed into rejecting the thought of asking for more than what has been offered to us by men.
Any advice to someone who may be interested in spoken word, but may not know how to get started?
Yes. Come to BAM! Second Wednesday of every month at the Central, find me, hug me, bring a poem, I’ll convince you to read it and be my best friend simultaneously. If you love the experience, listen to poetry online. Find your favorite poems/poets. Use their style as a template. Start filling in the blanks to your own story. Start competing. Start winning. Or not. Doesn’t matter. Keep speaking, though. Write your truths. Excavate, and self care while you do it, poems can take you places you never wanted to drown in. Write poems for art-sake. About anything, doesn’t always have to be a product of you gutting yourself. Being funny is much harder than being raw. Just come okay!