People celebrated Black love through the spoken word, poetry and song Feb. 10 during a February open-mic night at Jeffrey Pub, 7041 S. Jeffrey Blvd. Quare Square, Inc. co-sponsored the event, which brought amateur and professional artists together.
While the venue offered free expression, Quare Square Executive Director M. Shelly Conner stressed its geographical benefit.
"It's important that we have a home base for people of color on the South Side," Conner said. "I want to build a bridge between the social divide that is apparent, even in the queer community. There are people who need a base."
The event featured eight performers and drew an audience of about 30 people. Even so, the intimate space was filled with the sounds of Blackness coming from queer people of color and a straight ally.
"Drip … drip … drippin' like water," R&B singer Jacques said.
Jacques has been singing about 13 years and preparing to become an openly gay artist. His mixtape, "I Approve This Message," is slated to drop on iTunes in April. Vice, a spoken word artist and behavioral therapist for autistic children, shared her gift.
"Performing for me is an emotional release," she said.
Vice often looks at others and writes about their struggles. She's been performing for six years and writing for 12 years. Vice stressed what she hoped her performances to do for listeners.
"I want them to be able to identify," she said. "I want them to experience the same release I have."
It seems performing isn't how Vice copes with work-related stress. She said she approaches stress differently.
"I always focus on making people's lives better. That reduces stress."
Conner recited the poem "My Black is Black." Dionysus DeVille, who co-hosted the event with Niki Gee, raised his voice to share words of wisdom.
"We need to rise up and reclaim our pride," he said.
Quare Square is a non-profit organization focused on queer artists of color. Visit www.quare2collective.org .