I tutor jr. high school students. This performance has been used many times as teaching tool. The kids watch this on their own. I always walk away as soon as I hear, " Will I ever call your death beautiful." Love to you & your co-performer!
This poem brings awareness to the commonness of teen death in Chicago. As someone that has never been in a living situation where my high school peers decreases at a daily rate, this poem really touched me. I really can't fathom the emotions that these performers feel, but i can feel the emotions that resonate in their words. The words that stood out to me the most was the line where they said, "I play pick-up basketball with ghost." This line emphasized the innocence and youth within these lives that are lost.
"I'm 18!! I play basketball games with ghosts!!" & " Will they ever call your death beautiful...a sacrifice...a love story to be jealous of? How many mire deaths will it take before this....is considered genocide?" I LOVE THIS POEM!!!!! THIS MOVED ME SO MUCH I WROTE ONE WITH THE SAME TOPIC, ONLY NATION WIDE. ITS CALLED DEATH COUNTRY. SO FAR THE PEOPLE WHO HAD READ IT SAYS IT'S STRONG.
I'm from Chicago, and this poem means so much to me. These two young men deserve to be applauded. " Every intersection can become Virgina Tech, so excuse me if the media be missing my emotions" This has to stop ! I fear for everyone of my loves one everyday because of the violence going on! I take a ride on the bus and I witness people getting beat up. This isn't how life should be. " How many deaths will it take before THIS is considered genocide?"
Oh my God. I am so heartbroken from watching this. I hope they read the comments. I am sorry for your grief and applaud your talent. You two can make a huge difference.
As a recent graduate of Chicago Public Schools and a person who has known some of the Native Sons (and Daughters) who have set. Their skill and sincerity strike deep in me. To top it off, the make a allusion to Richard Wright's Native Son. Altogether, this viewing has touched me more than the first time I saw this when the documentary aired.
I cried so much when I saw this. Its so beautiful. Everything about it. "Im 18, I play basketball with ghosts!" That shook me into reality. Absolutely dope.
I can't listen to this without hurting. Brilliant performance. I genuinely hurt for each and every one of them. This is what poetry is supposed to do. Bring people to feel something together, laugh together, cry together, grieve together, love together. Brilliant.
My mother looked over at me as I was watching this and was worried by the look on my face. I finished the poem and turned to tell her I was alright, but the words twisted in my throat and erupted into a sob and I cried uncontrollably, unable to utter a word until I had to catch my breath or else start hyperventilating. I finally told her, "Don't worry about me, mama. I need to feel this pain." And she understood. Thank you for sharing this. Thank you so much.
my heart hurts, too many of the youth in this world are sacrificed for pride, and uneducated "beefs" the voices in this group have been heard and the ripples of words can reach unknown ears. strength and honor,selflessness and hope is what i heard through them. this can change!
I am a small white girl from no where Texas who grew up pretty wealthy, but the grass on the otherside is only an allusion. My sister died in a school shooting with countless others, I never got to say goodbye. No matter how diffrent our worlds are, we all bleed red. Thank you, and my whole heart goes out to all of you and the ghost we both once knew.
untold emotion comes frm this poem and the realization that something frm the past will always hunt our future...."IM 18 I PLAY PICK UP BASKETBALL GAMES WITH GHOST" the feelings coming frm these 2 are real and until we as a nation overcome our past this will always hunt us
Right on that stage is where death ends and life begins. Amazing poetry. Powerful witness to something that should not be. Thanks gentlemen...for feeling...for being...for courage...for love...for vision.
Those who disliked this have serious problems, and I will assume they have their ow emotional difficulties. This is possibly the best thing I have seen a high schooler step up and do, it is so inspiring.
these boys nailed the whole concept of poetry beautifully. ** the poem was creative -- loved the female voice reading the statistics in the background, with the poets picking out some of the names and eulogizing the people. ** it was performed flawlessly and with ingenuity -- with the delivery coming from one or both to show individual voices and dual emphasis. ** it was well-written -- with poignant choruses, engaging rhythm, effective pauses, and heart-wrenching emotion. ~ BRAVO!
Everytime I Hear This I Cry. I Am So Proud To Call Nate Marshall(The One On The Left) My Brother. Porbable My 20th Time Hearing It With Tears Just Like The First
Having been raised in the "Wild 100's" on the southside of Chicago, having experienced my younger brother being shot and killed as well as two childhood friends, this performance I found to be gut wrenching. Absolutely brilliant performance!
This gets me every time .. This is more relevant than ever. When does it all end? Why do we have to worry about being gun down instead of being able to live through our youth? Can we just live and live scared to be in our own skin?
I love this poem over the past few days I have listened to it repeatedly. It touched me. Knowing that I can relate to this I broke down in tears. I have lost too many people I loved to to barrel of a gun. This touches my heart like no other poem has ever done. Praying for God to put an end to kids my age not even living to see 21 and I'm only 16 my love and respect goes out Thank You guys for this -a.b.
![[Brave New Voices]Philly: Sean Bell](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/82VLGVn5P2Y/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Brave New Voices]Philly: Sean Bell](/img/tr.png)
"In the 14 days it took us to write this, we've had to add more names to this list" 😢
+Racquel King I like only to support your comment.
@@mgray999 same
"I play pick up basketball games with ghosts" -damn
that got me
'Playing pick up basketball games with ghosts' That part!!
My Enlish teacher showed us this in class and I broke down crying. I've watched it several times and I still cry every single time.
"IM 18 I PLAY PICK UP BASKETBALL GAMES WITH GHOST." I'm from Chicago and this poem gets me every time.
I almost cried in class when my teacher showed us this video. now I showed my parents
"i play basketball games with ghosts" that one got me kodos to you
I tutor jr. high school students. This performance has been used many times as teaching tool. The kids watch this on their own. I always walk away as soon as I hear, " Will I ever call your death beautiful."
Love to you & your co-performer!
I am sitting in my classroom, preparing to teach and the tears are streaming down my face. Simply incredible.
this gives me the chills and makes me cry every time I hear it
9 years later and still so relevant.
This poem brings awareness to the commonness of teen death in Chicago. As someone that has never been in a living situation where my high school peers decreases at a daily rate, this poem really touched me. I really can't fathom the emotions that these performers feel, but i can feel the emotions that resonate in their words. The words that stood out to me the most was the line where they said, "I play pick-up basketball with ghost." This line emphasized the innocence and youth within these lives that are lost.
"I'm 18!! I play basketball games with ghosts!!" & " Will they ever call your death beautiful...a sacrifice...a love story to be jealous of? How many mire deaths will it take before this....is considered genocide?"
I LOVE THIS POEM!!!!! THIS MOVED ME SO MUCH I WROTE ONE WITH THE SAME TOPIC, ONLY NATION WIDE. ITS CALLED DEATH COUNTRY. SO FAR THE PEOPLE WHO HAD READ IT SAYS IT'S STRONG.
"im 18, i play pickup basketball with ghost"
This is such a powerful line, the hair on the back of my neck and my arms are standing up.
I'm from Chicago, and this poem means so much to me. These two young men deserve to be applauded. " Every intersection can become Virgina Tech, so excuse me if the media be missing my emotions" This has to stop ! I fear for everyone of my loves one everyday because of the violence going on! I take a ride on the bus and I witness people getting beat up. This isn't how life should be. " How many deaths will it take before THIS is considered genocide?"
Oh my God. I am so heartbroken from watching this. I hope they read the comments. I am sorry for your grief and applaud your talent. You two can make a huge difference.
"I play pick-up basketball games with ghosts." hit me like a TON of bricks.
As a recent graduate of Chicago Public Schools and a person who has known some of the Native Sons (and Daughters) who have set. Their skill and sincerity strike deep in me. To top it off, the make a allusion to Richard Wright's Native Son. Altogether, this viewing has touched me more than the first time I saw this when the documentary aired.
Still so painfully relevant. I'll always love this.
Today I showed this to a classroom of kids at our school on the Southside of Chicago. I thank you. They thank you.
This song is so emotional. I LITERALLY CRIED WHEN I HEARD IT. I still do. really good writers.
This literally gives me goosebumps and brings chills down my spine everytime i watch it...
I cried so much when I saw this. Its so beautiful. Everything about it.
"Im 18, I play basketball with ghosts!"
That shook me into reality. Absolutely dope.
I can't listen to this without hurting. Brilliant performance. I genuinely hurt for each and every one of them. This is what poetry is supposed to do. Bring people to feel something together, laugh together, cry together, grieve together, love together. Brilliant.
"i play pick up basketball with ghost" you boys talk straight to the heart, cried the entire time
Words can not describe how great this was.
still get chills aftr 18 times of watching this
still keep rewinding after the big lines.
i love this
we wrote the poem in summer 08.
had tears in my eyes the whole time. this is among the most truthful, heart felt, passionate, real poems I have ever heard in my 20 years of life.
A teacher showed this in his 5th grade language arts class I observe in. Truly moving.
I get chills every time I listen to this poem.
Ive been writing poetry for a while now...but these guys blew me away....they inspire me...every one of the poets up there!
My mother looked over at me as I was watching this and was worried by the look on my face. I finished the poem and turned to tell her I was alright, but the words twisted in my throat and erupted into a sob and I cried uncontrollably, unable to utter a word until I had to catch my breath or else start hyperventilating. I finally told her, "Don't worry about me, mama. I need to feel this pain." And she understood. Thank you for sharing this. Thank you so much.
I have watched this so many times and I get goose bumps every single time
Tears came out of my eyes at the thought of the pain these boys and the pain of the loved ones of those who had passed away. Piety touches lives.
As a mother of a 16 year old son. This makes me weep. So glad your voices can be heard.
In tears because of this. I have countless families members there and I worry an pray for them daily. But beautiful poem, has me in tears everytime
I Listen To This Over And Over Again
no matter how many times i hear this on my ipod, it cuts me deeper every single time.
ive watched this 10 times now and still it brings me to tears
my heart hurts, too many of the youth in this world are sacrificed for pride, and uneducated "beefs" the voices in this group have been heard and the ripples of words can reach unknown ears. strength and honor,selflessness and hope is what i heard through them. this can change!
I always come back to this, and I always cry.
If you ever doubt that words are powerful, this is the reassurance you need to know words can shake you.
This one gets me every time .
I am a small white girl from no where Texas who grew up pretty wealthy, but the grass on the otherside is only an allusion. My sister died in a school shooting with countless others, I never got to say goodbye. No matter how diffrent our worlds are, we all bleed red. Thank you, and my whole heart goes out to all of you and the ghost we both once knew.
WOW. I have chills runnning up and down my body. This poem spoke the truth.
This is by far the most powerful spoonful of reality I've been delivered.
wow never really teared up to a poem except this one
I definitely cried a little
Non-stop chills from start to finish!
Wow, I'm sitting at my desk bawling my eyes out right now.
Bring back Brave New Voices
crazy how this is from 09 and things still havent changed in our city
I will never stop getting goosebumps when I watch this.
untold emotion comes frm this poem and the realization that something frm the past will always hunt our future...."IM 18 I PLAY PICK UP BASKETBALL GAMES WITH GHOST" the feelings coming frm these 2 are real and until we as a nation overcome our past this will always hunt us
Those 7 dislikes came from 7 people that can't handle and rather not hear THE TRUTH.
Right on that stage is where death ends and life begins. Amazing poetry. Powerful witness to something that should not be. Thanks gentlemen...for feeling...for being...for courage...for love...for vision.
I cried...I just don't have words to express how this made me feel.
Born N Raised In The Chi Town!!
Made Me Cryy.
Rest in Peace- Marcus Hardy -3
I can't believe I still get chills after all the times I've watched it.
Those who disliked this have serious problems, and I will assume they have their ow emotional difficulties.
This is possibly the best thing I have seen a high schooler step up and do, it is so inspiring.
these boys nailed the whole concept of poetry beautifully.
** the poem was creative -- loved the female voice reading the statistics in the background, with the poets picking out some of the names and eulogizing the people.
** it was performed flawlessly and with ingenuity -- with the delivery coming from one or both to show individual voices and dual emphasis.
** it was well-written -- with poignant choruses, engaging rhythm, effective pauses, and heart-wrenching emotion.
~ BRAVO!
i'm from hawai'i.
but that was deep, amazing, and powerful.
a touching poem.
RIP those who were lost.
Everytime I Hear This I Cry. I Am So Proud To Call Nate Marshall(The One On The Left) My Brother. Porbable My 20th Time Hearing It With Tears Just Like The First
Having been raised in the "Wild 100's" on the southside of Chicago, having experienced my younger brother being shot and killed as well as two childhood friends, this performance I found to be gut wrenching. Absolutely brilliant performance!
being a teen in chicago i kno 1st hand how yall feel, truely amazing and touchin...they all we b missed
& no matter how many poems we write or stories we tell, Still this day nothing has changed. All we can have is hope.
That was beautiful. I have never been affected by poetry this much until i began watching Brave New Voices. Amazing
This gets me every time .. This is more relevant than ever. When does it all end? Why do we have to worry about being gun down instead of being able to live through our youth? Can we just live and live scared to be in our own skin?
So powerful and so good....it brought me to tears. They're both such good poets.
Every time I watch this I cry..this poem definitely tells people what its like to be black and live in Chicago..
The truth hurts but i never heard anything written with so much passion...this is an excellent tribute and statement to the world!
I love this poem over the past few days I have listened to it repeatedly. It touched me. Knowing that I can relate to this I broke down in tears. I have lost too many people I loved to to barrel of a gun. This touches my heart like no other poem has ever done. Praying for God to put an end to kids my age not even living to see 21 and I'm only 16
my love and respect goes out Thank You guys for this
-a.b.
I can watch this all day. so powerful
I can only describe this as amazing and in my heart any innocent loss to this world is found wrapped in my love no matter who they are
This poem bring me to tears this is what were experiencing in St. Louis.
this is Nate who performed in this piece. Thanks to everyone who has commented or watched this.
i'm a poet and this here, gave me chills.
Man The Way This Gets To Me Is Deep....
I saw this is its beyond touching!!!!! God bless!!! this speak the TRUTH!!!!!!
"Ever intesection can become Virgina Tech", that line gave me chills
This poem has so much power !
Most beautiful poem I've ever heard.
This brought me to tears. So much truth spoken in 3 minutes.
This will always be a favorite.
Wow! So powerful, that last line....I'm speechless.
I cried almost throughout this entire poem, beautiful.
I have heard some unbelievably powerfully pieces in my 19 years... this is the first one to ever make me drop a tear .
this is a really great poem .... i love the part when the said " im 18 i play pick up basketball games with ghost " that was powerful
Watched this over 50 times, I still get chills.
"how many deaths would it take before this considered genocide?" Chills & tears all over! My God, save our children!!!!
I have so much respect for these boys and this poem!!!
people that dislike this are the people who well...nothing is needed to add to this...love the last few lines of this video!!! amazing job boys!!!
Lovely..no other word is needed.
too good to be framed with words
This is so, so strong. I wish I was still studying this in school or I'd share it with the seminar immediately. I'm amazed and in tears.
I got chills watching this.
I watch this at least 3 times everyday!
I got chills the whole way through..
with the new stories of all the deaths in chi town this is a must watch and maybe if more people watches this they will understand.
still love this
This still gives me chills
'I'm 18 I play pick up basketball games with ghosts' that one line gave me chills