HOLYSHIT ITS AJA MONET
Poet, Activist, and Performing Artist Aja Monet from Brooklyn, NYC by way of Chicago represented as the featured artist for OMAI First Wave’s monthly Just Bust open mic series. Not only did Monet leave the UW-Madison students and audience members with her poetry and first book, The Black Unicorn Sings, but also a workshop where she expressed her beliefs on oppression, emotions, and artistry. Monet stated, “Oppression is the inability to have emotional freedom”. She taught the students that coming alive means way more than being likable and to stay true to flaws, and humanity. Aja told young artists to be in tune with their affect on other people and to be present in today. Lastly, she stated, “Our job in writing is to show how hideous we are but how beautiful we can be.” I met Aja in 2007 at the Knicks Poetry Slam and I can say she is a thriving example of a Young Educated Artist seeking to autograph the world in freedom. To purchase her book and more check out ajamonet.com
