Aja Monet and phillip agnew: A love story about the power of art as organizing | TED

In a lyrical talk full of radical imagination, poet Aja Monet and community organizer phillip agnew share the story of how they fell in love and what they've learned about the powerful connection between great social movements and meaningful art. Journey to Smoke Signals Studio in Miami, their home and community art space where they're creating a refuge for neighbors and creators -- and imagining a new answer to distraction, anger and anxiety.
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[@pollyb2950]

I have watched this now 5 times and I just love it so much. From a 46 year old activist who has seen so much loss but also so much change and who often despairs at this world and how far we have to go. Thank you.

[@zaidz.aldissi3819]

Nice ❤️💙

[@JennaCiela]

All artists should hear this!!! Thanks for the inspiration

[@ramhtp]

"Data rarely moves people, but good art does" 🔥🔥🔥

[@niferanne53]

Having witnessed the power of art forms that unite activists as well as nourish their souls - i give thanks for this video.

[@elizahcreates]

9:20 time stamp: TELL ‘EM!

[@smoothfrequency558]

✨Respect the variety✨ Pull what speaks to you, Listen to something new, See what's in others view.

[@benschreur1771]

I like listening to smart people talk makes me feel.. idk

[@kulik03]

Why are you listening to this then?

[@benschreur1771]

IDK makes me feel good ig

[@nicklang7670]

The talk was passionate and well spoken. I need more too...

[@sisavanhcamard5424]

I thought it was aja and monet from rupauls drag race when i saw this notification

[@mmmk1616]

I love everything about this, the story, the love story, the art, the rhythms, the lyrics... Her dress, boots and fingernails brightened my day! 😍 I love everything about this!! Thank you!

[@pollyb2950]

Same. It's so beautiful.

[@gilmarbomfim8899]

She is very beautiful

[@softeyesworld]

None of the people in the comments understand art. You two are beautiful and I'm so happy ur world's converged in order to manifest a true commons for ur community which can multiply love art and healing

[@richerthanyou5434]

Then why don't they start a separate Ted art channel? Because I love Ted for science and state-of-the-art ideas.

[@ScentitarFragrance]

Laws never change culture ? You are right, they force culture .

[@fatimaahns6423]

Keep blessed 🧡🧡

[@Nobletsuali]

I hope this type of community building becomes trending

[@coachbahman]

*Organizing is the most powerful tool we have as human beings.*

[@coachbahman]

Real talk. It's a tool, can be used for good and evil.

[@Yanaschaf]

@The Reverend Scoops Not by default, no. Organizing can mean uniting. Unions are a product of organizing.

[@innerauthority2439]

Hadron love collider ⚡️💫

[@alienstorytell4491]

You've been an Inspirstion to start my own channel got to thank you for that!

[@ddanyy6]

I had to watch this for. School

[@yellooh]

More power

[@rafi6265]

bruh

[@sandrakarwel]

Too much self praise with no Ted Talk content. And the rhythming was annoying.

[@richerthanyou5434]

I know it was painful to watch

[@expatmarc6611]

As an OG artist, I LOVED this......

[@lorenzodawkins7500]

It’s....poetry not music

[@wandafrench776]

awesome work

[@nduduzo]

WOW!

[@ArmaniAriG]

Love story

[@samanthamongelluzzo1523]

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@wslandry]

Yo Yo Yo!

[@johnkwiatkowski6936]

What in the heck are these people talking about?

[@tempus.narrabo]

@Thunder Cat well that saves me looking as to why he is so ignorant . 👍 The way I see it, just some people are so brain washed, it's hard for them to see another side of the dice, I think the more publicity good positive information like this is out there, the more people will wake up.

[@mahmoudkhedawey7071]

Anyone from Egypt like here

[@zuhaldagtekin1082]

Yazılar türkçeye çevrilmeli birşey anlayamiyoruz

[@louiscotteta566]

“Art to build a radical future”... idiotic statements like this are the reason why Trump is getting reelected.

[@liammurray2318]

I don't see how it's idiotic, but go off.

[@BolPAyii]

Hello TED

[@dougg1075]

Nina Simone was karazee

[@imlegend2023]

Life is so much easier, you’re making things more complicated

[@ChessMasteryOfficial]

*No one can be sad when they have a balloon. ÷*

[@BunnyUK]

Discover Your Awesomeness yes they can

[@rheamorales1329]

If it's mylar. I have a respiratory allergy to latex balloons.

[@mhtinla]

A subtle yet strange side effect of the current resistance movement is the rise of antisemitism. Interesting.

[@rogerspable]

Why do you think that is?

[@mhtinla]

@2:15

[@fergusmoffat8926]

Milleniels are such a serious generation and seriousness is a disease. Why does art have to be about politics , let beauty be , and be appreciated and loved.

[@Yanaschaf]

Art isn't beauty. It can be beautifuly but that isn't the end game. You'd know that if you knew anything about art at all.

[@fergusmoffat8926]

@@Yanaschaf well the stated purpose of art nowadays is sadly to do that. Do you really think heavy , angry political concepts were flowing through the minds of the masters of art , from the romantic period etc no , they let sheer beauty and love flow through them as they created magnificent works of art. Of course you can make art political but it's a symptom of a society that is utterly lost , lost contact with there essence there humanity love , mystery and presence and nature, it's a symptom of a society that spends too much time thinking and in the mind than it does feeling and loving. Let art be about expression and beauty and feeling,But the moment you give it a purpose other than to exist for sheer joy of being you make it heavy , dense , lacking love and alivnesss, you lose the presence the sacred and all just to make statements to gratify your own ego. Art should not be a tool of the mind , the mind should be a tool of art. His shirt says it all btw ' weapon of class destruction ' there's no love in destroying things and if there's no love in it , why do it

[@DeoMachina]

@@fergusmoffat8926 If you think any of that is not political you need to leave your hometown, even if its just once.

[@fergusmoffat8926]

@@DeoMachina so waterhouse and turner were political ? No they were not

[@DeoMachina]

@@fergusmoffat8926 Define beauty and love for me, and try to make them sound like apolitical concepts. If you can, that is. Waterhouse is famous for his many paintings of 'feminine beauty', something modern women are trained from birth to adhere to even at the cost of their own health. People get ill because of this. Some of them actually die. Doesn't the fact that a relatively small group of people get to decide for the rest of us what to aspire to strike you as just a little bit political?

[@lamar3448]

#justSTUNNING! ✨😍✨ And how could you not like or love this! 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@BikingVikingHH]

La'Mar Alexander Owens ooga boooga

[@LughSummerson]

What does she see in a shortarse like him? Must be his a big organ ising skills.

[@BrianMcInnis87]

Uhm.......this poetry is awful.

[@mipper9459]

I bet TED won’t pin this comment

[@louiscotteta566]

U right