Porsha Olayiwola - Unnamed

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Porsha Olayiwola, performing at Camp Bar in Saint Paul, MN.
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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.

[@shrewii666]

"to know which end of the whipping whip has your name on it" wow

@@shrewii666 that was so powerful

[@xmarie44x]

Everything that Porsha creates is magical 🙌🙌

[@quintyiab3735]

L1q

[@penversity]

"And I wonder if this is the cotton plantation my family roots grew from." That introduction set up this line so well, and from here, this poem took off.

[@bqwadseertg]

What a beautiful and historically accurate poem, I could really feel that she knew exactly what she was talking about... And the meaning is so clear.

[@AnythingWithAbeat]

I feel so enlightened and empathetic. Unfortunately this is not a beautiful made up poem, it's an upsetting biography that's based on facts. The kind that you know will never get erased, or rewritten or changed, but most importantly it will never be forgotten. Nor should it be. Much love and respect for the black people who learn their history and embrace their cultural identity, their belonging, their heritage 💚

[@chanteljnai6728]

She's so smart and powerful. One of my favorite poets.

[@_Essentially_abena]

No matter how many times I watch this I get CHILLS EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!

[@mishatheewriter]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Porsha Olayiwoa is amazing!!

[@akashajones2258]

“Is there a magnolia tree in Mississippi with my ancestors blood on it” 😳👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾damn

[@oliviat1533]

😳 Names are so powerful and yes it still feels like a trigger. Makes me really celebrate and appreciate “black sounding names”

[@tyshaunthomas6343]

Before I watched this I never thought of all that’s in a name

[@katreinawashington6697]

Yesssssssssss queen ur are amazing writer and poety

[@aramideakanni1404]

I love Porsha sooooo much

[@AmazeG100]

Hair blown back every. single. time.

[@giabrooks2717]

Love her poems, I wish I can watch her live. 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@DebriaLove]

Her growth is amazing and inspiring. Don't give up yall keep perfecting your craft.

[@TheCaptainKim]

"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

[@Amylouise2201]

Thank you Porsha. I learn so much from your poetry.

[@SHAYTHAALIEN]

My world. Shes takes my breath away 😭

[@Yaw_Jr]

Wow! This cut deep...wow Amazing, she's awesome!

[@asiamarie4]

"Why the runaway syables aren't easier to caught" I had to pause and write that down.

[@tyshaunthomas6343]

Every time I come back and watch this some of the lines (like that one) always makes me rewinddd

[@rosemaryball7560]

I will never forget this 🙏🏼

[@shaundarauls1924]

I really just learned something... one of my favorite poets thank you for this piece

[@uche5448]

my fav is back and naturally she scraped my edges all the way off

[@ekpereusoro8159]

I love this woman.

[@aishiah438]

This is so true. My grandparents’s last names were both Hall. My grandmother didn’t have to change her last name because it was already Hall.

[@JamMastaJeremy]

One of my favorite poems ever!!!

[@demonmother220]

I love her poem

[@mariahj2931]

Your voice was so powerful and incredible. I am in awe. Thank you for writing this!

[@GiftsTrix]

OMG Yes! Porsha Olayiwola! The performance is amazing, and a bittersweet slap from my favorite poet.

[@Cupids-1lover]

“Racial traumas and triggers are a formal greeting. When we call our Oppressors’ name to Introduce ourselves.” Damn! 😧

[@melany7338]

absolutely phenomenal

[@mihlaligaiza4296]

preach would you!!! magnificent...

[@hads5279]

Damn, I can’t stop clicking on their poems.

[@tyvaughnholness1985]

I felt all of that, every word

[@ThePepsi2011]

Wow. That was amazing

[@joykutlwanotlhapane7508]

yoh i cried

[@Bloodygeek1]

Breath taking....

[@chassnaecarter4528]

Very Powerful

[@TreeHairedGingerAle]

DAMN!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾✨📢

[@Oyasavvi]

Thank you Porsha ❤️

[@krystal473]

So so so goooood!!!

[@miriameclipse8191]

*faints*

[@amyaenlow2855]

GO OFF SIS 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 let them KNOWWWWW 🤓🧐

[@RhizometricReality]

Powerful!

[@MindDepth]

Ma’am I need a “Unnamed II” cuz you were going OFF and I don’t feel like you were done!

[@Jae.-.]

My last name is the most common...Williams. I know almost nothing about my family history

[@basielu]

PORSHAAAA

[@tonyb8387]

Oh shiiiiid! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@eddiebarnum6020]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😳🤔 Nice!!! Facts!!!!! ✊🏿

[@quinasiajohnson1396]

“To know exactly what your name is attached to” that was the was powerful part for me

[@ms.tekijackson4167]

🔥 alon

[@EssencEats]

D a m n. Yes!

[@ancestrallegacyskincare3195]

Phew 😮‍💨

[@krystal473]

So good

[@LacyBeee]

Good shit, very touching!!!

[@Grace-ep4hs]

Say That!

[@BlackBubbleGummy]

My last name is hill and has Irish orgin from Iriah people that lived on hills....what does that mean?

[@brit9662]

I didn't know people used their former owners names in the hopes of reuniting themselves one day. There was some greater purpose to it than ease.

[@graciouslyblack2292]

“Every time I meet a Black person with the last name Beattie/ Beaty...Every time I meet a white person with the last name Beattie/Beaty...” wow!

[@LPoper]

I am sorry. Truly. I know the issues, traumas, difficulties I've faced as a woman and they have at times been devastating. I was raised to acknowledge, accept and appreciate all cultures, all people and my heart aches for the uncountable, unknowable (by caucasian women) traumas and hurdles, centuries of collective abuse and bigotry that women of color know their whole lives. I am sorry. It's not pity. Please don't think that. I know it's not enough but I hope it helps to know not everyone is hateful, bigotted. 💜

[@mel9823]

L. Poper we don’t been anymore apologies. We need y’all to let your peers who don’t see us as equals,even though we share the last names, how they treat us. Get them to understand that we don’t need sympathy and that we don’t tell our stories for likes and “reparations” alone. We want to be heard to show that we are more than a statistic and a “lucky to get out the hood” we are more than that.

[@TheCaptainKim]

@@mel9823 Don't be so damn rude when a good person sympathizes with you. And, too, don't be so damn bitter either. Get on with life, it's hard enough without the bitterness and the memories.

[@mel9823]

TheCaptainKim first of all, this was a whole year ago. Idk why you’re addressing me about this or in general cause I don’t know you. Second, I wasn’t being rude. I was being honest. We don’t need anymore apologies. It’s time to have actual discussion not “I’m sorry” cause that don’t change the state of what’s going on. Now go away.

[@Gemtree_25]

Mhmmm

[@Bigdriver1974]

What is you fathers name

[@MitigateOurRuin]

This is not the way. The history of slavery is awful, no doubt, but if we are to hyperfocus on superficial, meaningless characteristics between one another, we'll never move beyond racism. This will only embolden rage between us. You are a human. I am a human. End of discussion.

[@Karamazov9]

Moving on requires making amends, America has done nothing to make amends, race is a social construct but racism is real and has material affects, ignoring it might make you more comfortable but it won’t bring liberation.

[@czarenasmith3015]

My last name is smith my dad is black. I know a white boy whose last name smith!😳

[@alspeace]

Ever met a White person who has the last name, WASHINGTON?

[@Frankonero12]

Angry black woman.

[@miraculouslynada]

r u naming her other poem?

[@juanluc111]

Stop

[@kyramckenzie7556]

You're tooo rude this is beautiful