The APIDA Amplified Program hosted an open mic event on Wednesday in the humanities building courtyard, in partnership with the Professional Learning Office, and the English and humanities departments, where students and faculty shared self-composed forms of creative writing. It was followed by a poem reading and book signing by guest author Brandy Nālani McDougall.
The compositions ranged from performances of acoustic songs, poems, skits and even raps. Student performers shared their thoughts on profound issues like their struggles with identity and worrying about the future, to lighter topics like their love of sherbet and choosing which option to bubble in on a multiple-choice quiz.
English 102 student Daniel Yoon attended the event alongside many of his classmates. He joined the event because he was in need of extra credit for the class and chose to incorporate lessons from the course into his poem.
“One of the things I learned in the class was something called dehumanization, and I really loved it. So, today I’ll be reading a poem using that literary technique,” said Yoon.
His poem used analogies to compare his own feelings to those of a scantron waiting to be filled and opportunities always presenting themselves again, like the extra credit opportunity he was attending the event for.
Faculty members also shared their thoughts on cultural issues and capitalism. Fullerton English professor and poet Cynthia Guardado shared a moving piece about her grandfather titled “When All Your Kin Are Gone.”
The poem touched upon the struggle that families face when they’re separated by a government that has been overtaken by capitalism, and the guilt felt by those who had to leave to be able to provide for themselves and the loved ones that they left behind.
The open mic was then followed by a reading from author, poet and University of Hawai’i at Mānoa professor Brandy Nālani McDougall. She shared four poems from “Āina Hānua/Birth Land,” which is her latest collection of poems that touch upon the connections that she’s made with her ancestors and community.
“My work has been largely shaped by my own traumatic experiences, ways of trying to process fear and to process heaviness in the world. Poetry and art in general are what have carried me through that,” said McDougall.
The event concluded with a Q&A from McDougall and a book signing. The college provided attendees with copies of “Āina Hānua/Birth Land,” and those present had the opportunity to get their copies signed and speak with the author.
McDougall was the first of five guest speakers who will be visiting Fullerton College. The next event will be held in collaboration with the Grads 2 Be program and will feature Salvadoran poet and activist Javier Zamora, who will be speaking on Nov. 21.
