Pages Matam - On Learning America's English

Pages Matam, performing at NPS 2015 in Oakland, CA.

About Button:

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.

[KreamyKurls]

When he got in his African accent I was like dang! I love it

[adjoabaidoo]

YES! An African poet. I may be Ghanian, but I could certainly relate

[Crystalthest]

"Too Black for Africans, or too African for Blacks. But still too black for America because the bullet never asks, "What part of the ocean are you from?"" I feel like any immigrant can relate to this and even 1st generation Americans. I'm Caribbean American but on paper I'm supposed to check the box for Black/ African American because we all just get clumped together no matter where it is we were born. The bullet still greets all of us equally because all it sees is the color of our skin.
Love the shirt, by the way.

[horsecrazy]

I love button.. It seems like it always shows me another thing that I could never see from where I stand. To use pocohontas- "You'll learn things you never knew you never knew"

[karenkilljoyd]

Pages Matam, you have made a fan out of me.

[prisca_d]

"White picket flesh with section 8 bones" That deserves some snaps! That's really powerful

[soalaidasetima]

The change of accent threw me for a loop

[sandisiweeletuyengeni]

"I am the ocean..already seasoned, full of salt"

Soo awesome! You are an amazing poet good sir!!

[ellabiddy]

That's my favorite accent ever! I rarely hear it but it's so great

[milesshogun]

Very touching for all those who are made to feel different. Wonderful poem

[ruthchi]

i relate to this so much it has me in tears

[basma]

I revisit this poem every so often ❤️ the words are so poignant

[ShaeMacMillan]

Thanks for reading your poems. I learnt a lot from you. Your poems persuade me to keep going

[keierrareenell]

This is life giving... new perspective!

[robinlofton]

His accent makes me blush and I'm black 🤗🤗

[funnyjuiceeffects]

i feel like the audience was too quiet, i was expecting more snaps and claps

[spiritualcosmeticss]

i really like this 👏 interesting perspective of an immigrant. How do i find out when button poetry is coming to Detroit?

[gumuru]

Digestion has never been easy for the foreign stomach. Whewwww. 🔥🔥

[andriadawn]

I really want this shirt, where is this sold?

[alexisdunbar]

Anyone know where his shirt is from ? ..love the poem btw 💗