Steven Willis - The First Time a Man Attempts to Fight His Father

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Steven Willis, performing at Rustbelt 2017 in Minneapolis, MN.
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Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.
We seek to showcase the power and diversity of voices in our community. By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.

[@kyramckenzie7556]

Who knew the same hand that rocked your cradle will slap fire from your eyes the first time

[@kyramckenzie7556]

The first time a man attempts to fight his father he will be scared out of his mind yet can neither surrender or retreat

[@Pea3.]

Steven Willis is the man. He came to my college and killed it . Much respect brother ✊🏾

[@jaywilliams6621]

He is my spoken word teacher at thurgood Marshall .

[@justanotherisekaiprotagoni7293]

Paul Anderson III luckyyyy😭

[@divalizzous]

"...b/c a boy with his skin needs discipline. Rather his daddy do it, than the streets do it, than the system do it, than a crooked cop do it... It is the fear of a son never returning home that turns a father into the oppressor, a stern reproach into a police state, respectability into a racist regime". The unfortunate reality of Black childhood.

[@shanethehomosapien]

Desperately wish more of these were on Spotify:(

[@ashleyh9179]

more? I didn't know there were any slam poems in Spotify.

[@shanethehomosapien]

Ashley Henderson yeah, theres some But not much

[@ButtonPoetry]

We're working on getting way more up there!

[@shanethehomosapien]

Button Poetry YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats awesome!

[@ij_2034]

Button Poetry That is awesome! Thank you

[@mentallychallenged7785]

look I'm sorry, the replay button was asking for it. this boy got talent.

[@1cjblacks85]

Edges snatched tf up.

[@jovienrobinson]

“It’s when you know he’s obituary ready, it’s when you know he’s protest worthy, it’s when you know he’s target”

[@bimboodekunle4296]

Me watching this when I was 14 and rewatching it 4 years later… I understand

[@josecarloslopezbadillo9986]

This couldn't have been uploaded at a better time, thank you

[@thokozanitshabalala4919]

I literally went through this a week ago , thank you so much for this

[@elijahshort007swagg]

Zayn Proverb it’s a young mans right of passage we all challenge the male authority we know I think that’s what it’s about you’re a man now 😂

[@marymary1779]

Beautiful

[@lilygracesings135]

Amazing

[@jordannicome7905]

This hit home

[@isabellawhite7289]

Wooooow, the performance is stunning

[@erinswift6904]

I love this

[@planetshonen3306]

excellent

[@caffeinatednation8885]

Damn. *goosebumps*

[@user-ck2cw7ug5c]

I love it!

[@ayannafarmer5139]

Gave me chills

[@tehilayahysrayl6840]

Powerful!!!!!

[@DotsieDIsaac]

Tears

[@yl9543]

Way too spot on

[@triciamotika7763]

Wow. I looove this.

[@FSDBARBIE]

I adore this

[@alexacosta7166]

The part about discipline reminds me of Ta-Nehisi Coates'

[@mentallychallenged7785]

"that plus his black is the sum of their demonic" real talk...

[@TheCinderellaPrincess]

Wow... I'm shook

[@quack5034]

Wow. I thought I was alone.

[@songwe4714]

First for the first time ever! And I looove this

[@asias3000]

powerful

[@promisentuli2190]

i am in love....my gohhhd

[@babe-yj5wd]

@ Discovery Chanel for that description of the dude walking up to his dad😂

[@lilygracesings135]

Ly cool

[@tekaytobinson8531]

how true this is, shit just happened to me

[@dreamygray3337]

When I was 14. Dad had been punching me in the face. Trick is, Ima girl

[@stevenswain248]

Head up baby girl, your stronger than you'll ever know.... GOD be with you

[@dominggus6726]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@danieldannydan1573]

Can anyone point me in the direction to more like this

[@alekstodorov426]

I need those lyrics

[@K3ithia]

😍

[@-aconvenientalibi-9968]

This is not what I know to be true

[@omaima4519]

- A Convenient Alibi - that's the thing about poetry, every piece is personal!