By Tihut Tamrat, Contributing Writer
Black Xpression, an open mic experience centered around community blending Afrocentric consciousness with a dash of Family cookout, was held last Friday August 16th from 8-10pm at the Guild Room on 2728 Sixth Ave.
Open to all, host with the most, Lew Salem, and the Black Xpression team celebrated their 8 year anniversary of “Open Mic Night” that has been creating a safe Black space for “Black folx” to express their art every friday at 8pm.
“If you feel it, Xpress it!”, a mantra that was recited and truly followed all night attributed to the upbeat and supportive vibe in the room. Performers from all walks of life stepped up to perform their act.
Sterling Jerelle Wheaton, artist and performer up first, brought everyone out of their seats responding to his call outs, bringing smiles to people’s faces. Other performers throughout the joyous night included Veronique, spoken word poet; Kitty, vocalist; Kimi Rahmaan, spoken word poet; TamDaArtist, lyricist; Dylan, poet and rapper; Call me Curtis, rapper; and Fre3sty13, vocalist and singer, among others in the audience.
DJ DM kept spirits high and the vibe up the whole night with selective song choices after each courageous performer bravely did their thing.
With a room filled with joy and good vibrations, Black Expression created a safe place for Black folx to be unapologetically themselves and a community they can rely on and build on to continue expressing their art and inspire others to “Xpress” and join next Friday.
