A native New Yorker and former Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion, Denice Frohman writes about the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality. This poem, “Accents,” is a beautiful ode to her mother’s Puerto Rican accent.
Not only does this performance pair well with resources that discuss language prejudice, but it can also serve as an introduction to the Nuyorican Cafe performance venue, which is an amazing New York City resource. The café is an outgrowth of a salon that poet Miguel Algarian started hosting in his East Village living room in 1973. Offering a venue to poets, artists, and musicians of color who mainstream audiences neglected, the salon’s quick growth prompted the 1981 purchase of an old tenement building which became the café. Today, the Nuyorican Poet’s Café is one of the most respected arts organizations in the country, known in part for having launched the careers of many famous artists. It has a highly accessible open-mic night, for any students who might be interested in performing.
Potential discussion questions:
- What does the metaphor of the shotgun contribute to Frohman’s characterization of her mother? What mood does it create?
- What is the purpose of the call-and-response method Frohman incorporates in her performance? What mood does it create?
- Where does Frohman use humor, and what purpose does it serve?
- What overall message does this poem convey and what details support it?