The Classes of 2023 and 2024 were treated to a special Zoom session on Monday, March 14, with Andre Bradford, a slam poet based in Austin, TX, who performs as S.C. Says.

This engaging session involved the performance of original works from Mr. Bradford, who also guided students through the techniques he uses to compose authentic and engaging slam poetry. 

In celebration of his Jamaican and Mexican heritage, Mr. Bradford describes himself as “JaMexican,” and much of his work centers around bringing “differing cultures and ideologies together in appreciation”; such goals were clearly on display for this special session. Students were provided with mini-composition notebooks and pens/pencils so that they could compose their own writing in response to Mr. Bradford’s prompts. Even though the session itself was held through Zoom, our gathering in the auditorium also provided for some break time from the ubiquitous technologies of our lives. 

For the aspiring writers and artists in our community and beyond, Mr. Bradford offers three distinct recommendations: 

1. Assume your audience knows nothing about you; 

2. Find the comedy in your story; 

3. Focus on what’s real about your experiences. 

Bradford also encourages his audience to embrace ambivalence and to lean into vulnerability as key elements of any successful artistic expression. For over eight years, Mr. Bradford has traveled the country performing at schools and in various slam poetry competitions. 

One of Bradford’s specific writing prompts asked students to write a letter to a fear that they have. His instructions included asking students to discuss how long they’ve lived with fear and what benefit(s), if any, it’s had upon their lives. Bradford even added a touch of humor by imagining the fear “hanging out at a bus stop,” thus helping students to personify their particular struggles and speak about them in relatable ways. 

Another exercise cut to the core of the social-emotional struggles and academic pressures many students face at Moravian and other independent schools. Mr. Bradford prompted students to write: “What I meant to say when I said, ‘I’m fine.’” We know all too well these days that one’s claims of being “fine” often belie the anxieties and pain below the surface of our lives. 

Several students bravely shared the poems they created during the session, to thunderous applause from their classmates and sincere appreciation from Mr. Bradford, who noted that he was “BLOWN AWAY at the work that was shared.” 

We look forward to hosting S.C. Says in person on April 21st as part of our celebration of National Poetry Month. He’ll be preceded by a visit from poets John Murillo and Patrick Rosal on Thursday, April 7th, the week we return from spring break!