Actor, singer, songwriter, composer and poet Daniel Beaty came to City College for a performance and Q & A put on by the Cultural Awareness Center.
“My thoughts on Daniel Beaty’s performance are that he is not only a great entertainer but he also delivers a powerful message,” said accounting major Cory Spaulding. “I enjoyed every second of it.”
Beaty is known for his “Knock Knock” monologue that was originally performed on HBO’s Def Jam Poetry. It’s a poem about a boy whose father was incarcerated as a child and the struggles of not growing up with a father figure.
Much of Beaty’s work is portrayed through the eyes of a young black man. According to Beaty the male identity needs to feel powerful and life throws things at him to take that power away. Beaty documents his own life obstacles in his “Knock Knock” monologue:
“I jump out of Mama’s arms and run joyously towards my papa’s only to be confronted by this window. I knock knock trying to break through the glass, trying to get to my father. I knock knock as my mama pulls me away before my papa even says a word.”
Beaty also focuses a lot on the healing process in which one can move on from past hurts. “Healing my past saved my life and I did that through my art,” Beaty says “I feel I have a responsibility to share the possibility of healing with others.”
The event was the second in which Beaty has come to speak at City College but was likely the first time for some in attendance to have seen him.
Imagine tying a very tight rubber band around your finger. cheap viagra http://deeprootsmag.org/2014/07/21/hubble-spots-spiral-bridge-young-stars-linking-two-ancient-galaxies/ I have confidence that its natural formulation affords effective re-moisturisation, while treating sensitive tissues with great gentleness.” If you would like some samples for use in your clinic or hospital, please e-mail: with your contact details and address, and we will be delighted to supply you with sachets, leaflets and testers. viagra shop uk You cialis viagra online http://deeprootsmag.org/category/features/page/4/ can get erection naturally anytime in this time span. Some minor side effects however, such as blurred vision and blue tinge to buy viagra vision.
“The event was nothing like I expected it to be just for the mere fact that I went in with a closed mind and blunt attitude believing I could not learn [or] be moved by a spoken word alone,” Spaulding says. “I definitely was in for a rude awakening. His performance was awesome.”
Beaty later took questions from the audience. He says he enjoys taking part in Q & A events at schools.
“The student minds and hearts are so open, and college students are a very important phase of life,” Beaty says. “They are finding out who they want to be in the world. They help impact change.”
Beaty, who started his art in third grade, plans to continue touching as many people as he can with his art.
“I am very blessed. I don’t work another job,” Beaty says. “I make a living in my art. I travel around the world and share my passion.”
“I definitely think there should be more events like Beaty’s because these sorts of events transcend gender and race and are very inspirational,” Spaulding says.
“The most significant lesson I learned from the event and his message is that I, as an African American male, can rise above any stereotypes that are set upon me.”
