On Apr. 10 at 7 p.m., 5C students gathered in Edmunds Ballroom at Pomona College to experience death row prisoner Keith LaMar’s spoken word poetry, accompanied by a live jazz band. LaMar works closely with members of the 5C Prison Abolition Coalition, who have brought LaMar to Claremont four times.
“Jazz is married to Keith’s spoken word poetry,” organizer Oli Yoo SC `26 said. “His words are elevated by the music, and this art moves people to action: to learn about unfair prison systems, to donate, to become involved in the planning for the next concert. This means everything to our friend Keith.”
The Ohio State Penitentiary permitted LaMar to phone in at 7:30 p.m. After facing some technical difficulties, LaMar performed multiple pieces, leaving audience members with a greater understanding of the harsh realities of incarceration.
Words by Annabelle Jurus & Sylvie Simmons | Photo by Maggie Zhang
Read the full story at the link in our bio.
2 days ago
Facebook Comments