The LocaL, April-May 2022

ELEVATING VOICES WITH

Jonathan Samuel Eddie Why the Fountain City Needs Slam By Erick Daniel Richman

Jonathan Samuel Eddie “In order to tell the truth, you have to be honest with yourself,” poet Jonathan Samuel Eddie begins, “I have had to practice what I have been preaching, and it’s been beautiful.” Reflecting on a decade creating opportunities for Columbus, Georgia residents to engage with spoken word poetry and live performance, Jonathan seems to suggest that expression through careful word selection is close to a kind of freedom, right, or even some more obscure, abstract value to which every human being is entitled. “Poetry is revealing yourself to yourself,” he says, “It’s like wiping the steam off the mirror in the shower and finally looking at yourself.” Since 2011, the executive director and founder of the non-profit organization The Fountain City Teen Poetry Slam, Inc. has hosted open mic nights and local poetry slams, and prepared area teenagers to compete on the national stage. “When students come to Fountain City [Slam],” he says, “it’s like a big breath of fresh air in which they’re able to be themselves.” Most recently, the I Love Myself initiative introduces middle school students to journaling and other skills for well-being. Although he’s accumulated accolades and acclaim, his priority remains encouraging growth through expression: for himself as much as others. “The actual act [of performance poetry] is very therapeutic for me,” he says, “Humor, and laughter, and joy, and all of that - I just discovered by doing.”

Spreading Expression

“We are poetry,” he says, explaining that it’s “our

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experiences and these things that have built us that are creating these stanzas and literary devices that are oozing out of our bodies.” Across his roles, he shares how spoken word offers a “platform to speak your peace, get it off your chest, get it into the universe and let it bounce off someone’s ears and watch what it becomes.” “Getting students to that point can be frustrating,” he admits, “As we say in theater and everywhere else, ‘we are our own biggest critics.’” Hesitation and thoughts of “this is silly” or “what even is this” are common, but he sees reactions of relief and joy when students realize that “all we want you to do is use your voice.” “Let’s explore,” he tells them. “Let’s create. Let’s grow.” From there, he says, “It’s almost like they’re on a creative expression shopping spree and they’re running through the mall picking up all this stuff.” Sharing singer Nina Simone’s quote that “the artist’s duty is to reflect the times,” he encourages students, “Tell the truth and then we can deal with it, then we can grow from it.” “That’s our duty,” he says, “we can’t lie about it.” Perhaps reflecting on his own journey, he tells them that “the beauty of what we do as artists” is that “your work lives forever.” “When I say that, young people’s eyes open up, like ‘wow, I can impact my world today with words that will live forever?’”

“I can wash that character off, I can’t wash Jonathan off.” He recalls telling himself, “Okay, I need to do some self work so that I can be a better teacher, a better performer.” “Now, I have tools,” he says, mentioning counseling as well as “breathing, personal affirmations, meditation, and of course, yoga.” “There were points in my life where I was out of breath,” he says, “but in these moments of therapy and talking out, I felt the gust of wind, I felt my lungs inflate. I felt a renaissance of sorts, a coming anew.” Using those tools, he looks to make the most of each breath, “because the breath is a moment in life.” “I am happy with me,” he affirms himself, “I am comfortable with me. I am loving and learning to love myself and parts of myself.”

Living Room> Stage> Classroom

“Looking back, I was very much preparing for the life I’m leading now.” Jonathan speaks about his journey in a way consistent with his refrain that “we are poetry.” Growing up, “I had a very special place,” he says, “and my mom created that space.” “Basically every Saturday night,” he recalls, “we had an open mic in our home.” He and his siblings would play-perform between episodes of the Golden Girls, Empty Nest, and Showtime at the Apollo. He credits his mother, who served thirty years as an educator in Muscogee County, with demonstrating how to listen: “I very much have modeled my teaching practice after how she taught us in the home.” Before his first poetry slam as a senior in college, he had wanted to be a music journalist. He’d wanted to interview Janet Jackson. “I would have been asking about Rhythm Nation or whatever song… or [her roles on] Good Times or Fame.” As the person he is today, what would he ask Janet Jackson if his childhood dream came true? After a pensive moment, he says simply: “I’d ask her if she feels supported.” Practicing Self-Care “You’ve already succeeded just by standing up and being here,” he says to students, because “a lot of times stepping in the room is the goal for the day. Getting up, waking up.” Although he’d been onstage as an actor, he found spoken word challenging in new ways. 10

“I’m working on myself daily like it’s a process.” Supporting Spoken Word in Columbus “All of our events are free to any students that want to participate,” he says, “I think that’s important for access.” He encourages the community to be involved: attending events, making charitable donations, or purchasing books and t-shirts from the website. “If people are wondering how they can support, or if they can support,” he says with lighthearted appreciation, “Yes.” Visit fountaincityslam.org to learn more about Fountain City Slam and support their work in the community. “Definitely over the last ten years of existence, Fountain City Slam has survived on the generosity of this community. We need your support.” Living Poetry “We are all storytellers,” he says. We all “have stories in our bodies that are begging to be told.” Still channeling the warmth of those childhood Saturday evenings after a decade helping others explore their experiences, he suggests everyone can learn to capture, reflect, and better understand their lives through poetry. “You are the best poem ever written,” he says, “Even if you don’t realize it.” “Especially people that like, ‘I hate poetry?’” “Well,” he says with the charming, good-natured smirk of an 80s sitcom lead, “you’re a poem!” u To learn more about Jonathan Samuel Eddie and his personal work, visit www.jonsamedd.com

APR I L-MAY 2022