Chatham Arts Council

We nurture creative thinkers

  • Arts Calendar
  • About
    • Our Who, What, Why, and How
    • Our Past
    • Our Friends
    • Our Press
    • Our Contact Info
    • Employment
  • Kids
    • Artists-in-Schools Initiative
      • Artists-in-Schools 2024/25 Season
      • Stories from the 2023/24 Artists-in-Schools Season
    • ClydeFEST
      • ClydeFEST 2025 was a Joy!
      • ClydeFEST Sponsor Benefits
  • Artists
    • Grassroots Arts Grants (Deadline: June 26, 2025)
    • Artist Support Grants (Deadline: September 1, 2025)
    • Emerging Artist Grants (Opening Fall 2025)
    • Grant Programs
    • Meet This Artist
    • Go See This
    • Arts Directory
  • GIVE
    • Individuals & Families
    • Businesses & Groups
    • Who Values the Arts

Search Chatham Arts Council

November 1, 2022

Phillip Shabazz Brings the Power of Poetry to Willow Oak

Photo triptych of Phillip Shabazz residency

NC poet Phillip Shabazz delighted the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade combined classes at Willow Oak Montessori Charter, making our second Artists-in-Schools residency of the season a smashing success.

Photo of Phillip Shabazz and student reading her poem in front of the class

Photo of student asking question of Phillip Shabazz

Photo of NC poet Phillip Shabazz reading to students at Willow Oak Montessori

“Imagination is an unlimited gift we call art. Everywhere you look is art.
Even science, even math, is art.”

–Phillip Shabazz, Artists-in-Schools residency

Students spent three days in the residency, reading the works of poets like Nikki Giovanni, Tupac Shakur, and Phillip Shabazz himself. Then it was their turn to write!

Mr. Shabazz discussed several different types of poems, including lunes (3-line, 11-word poems), rhyming couplets, list poems, and ode poems. The kids were asked to write one of each over the course of the residency. They were given title prompts like “Thrift Store,” “Gift Shop,” “Grumpy Things,” “Junk,” “Treasure.” The group also read examples of each type of poem, including Phillip’s list poem titled “Shabazz’s Grumpy Things.”

Slip-on dress shoes—black and shiny,
brown number 32 football jersey,
gray coveralls with oil spots,
a gold pocket watch I won in a card game,
brown crush velvet housecoat soft like a cat’s fur,
a thin black comb clean as a guitar,
razor blades sharp as lightning,
a little wad of cash lucky as a four-leaf clover,
white shirts on hangers,
a leather jacket black as a panther for my birthday,
a thousand rolls of quarters,
a scar on my forehead from a car crash,
a bottle of Old Spice, a stick of deodorant,
drives a fast white SUV.

Photo of students writing poems for Phillip Shabazz workshop
Photo of Phillip Shabazz and student discuss his poemMr. Shabazz gave the students 10 minutes or less to complete their poems, so the room went quiet. The sound of furious scribbling was all anyone could hear . . . until volunteers were called to read their poems aloud. And the students were eager to share.

Photo of students raising their handsOne by one, students headed to the front of the class to share their poems. Some were silly. Some were funny. Some explored hard, sad things. All were a release for the kids, who were discovering a new artistic outlet for their feelings.

Photo of student reading poem to class with Phillip Shabazz

Photo of student reading his poem with Phillip ShabazzThe kids found poetry to be a gift of new expression, and on the last day of the residency, they had a gift for Mr. Shabazz to show their appreciation. One even wrote an ode poem to him!
Photo of the thank you board the kids made for Phillip Shabazz

 

Photo of student poem "Ode to Phillip Shabazz"“Keep writing. You are the future voices of this country. Make sure your voice is heard–whether you’re in the city or the country. Make your life a work of art.
Make the best out of yourself.”
–Phillip Shabazz

This residency was powered by generous support from Willow Oak Montessori Parents and Families.

Arts for Resilient Kids programming is made possible by partnerships with Chatham County Schools, Chatham County, the North Carolina Arts Council, and many individual, foundation, business donors.

Related

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured |

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

AIS Stories from the 2023/24 Season

Sparking Creativity: Blackspace’s Beat Making Lab at Chatham Middle featuring Grammy-nominee Pierce Freelon
Photo of Black man with dreads showing 3 middle school students the mixing board

Movement Matters: Silk Hope School and Gaspard&Dancers
Students play a game of making different shapes with their bodies through dance with the help of professional instructors inside a school multipurpose room.

Poetic Pursuits: Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary

Igniting the Flame of Flamenco: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Moncure School

Mike Wiley’s Masterful Residency: Teaching through Theatre at Bennett and Bonlee School

Black Box Dancers Delight Fourth Graders at Pittsboro Elementary
Black Box dancers lead fourth graders in dance at Pittsboro Elementary.

Poet Phillip Shabazz Supports Fifth Graders at North Chatham Elementary
Poet Phillip Shabazz instructs a class of fifth grade students on poetry writing.

Black Box Residency Bursts with Creativity and Collaboration at J.S. Waters School

Diali Cissokho Dives Into Drumming with Siler City Elementary Fifth-Graders
Photo of three smiling boys, two brown and one black, sitting playing drums

Chatham Grove Elementary Students’ Sensational Safari with The Magic of African Rhythm
A young Black boy and a young white girl printmaking in classroom

Diali Cissokho Drums and Dances alongside Fifth-Graders at Virginia Cross Elementary

From the Horse’s Mouth…

Don’t take it from us! See what Chatham County students, teachers and administrators are saying about their Artists-in-Schools experiences.

  • “Children were so excited to write and to share. They all came away talking about writing and wanting to talk about poetry. They looked forward to his [Phillip Shabazz] visits each day.” –Classroom Teacher
  • Photo of black man in sweater vest, seated, assisting a female student.
  • “It felt relieving and comforting to express myself during the workshop.” –6th grade student
  • “I really liked showing my feelings in my work.” –4th grade student
  • “This is my 4th time in this school division participating with an artist residency. They have all been wonderful. It is a great opportunity for students to learn in different ways. My hope is for this to be available to us every year.” –Classroom teacher
  • Photo of Black Box Dance Theatre's Stephen leading Virginia Cross students
  • “It made me feel happy because I got to use my imagination.” –5th grade student
  • “It felt good for me to release all my emotions.” –5th grade student
  • Photo of boy with ponytail, with head thrown back in laughter
  • “The students talked about the experience for a week after.” –Classroom teacher
  • “Watching the kids put their plan into action for the performance and actually dance, all while doing so in front of their peers is the reason we do this…The experience was amazing!” –Elementary Assistant Principal
  • “I have a student that is a newcomer to our school, as well as to our country. She found great comfort in being able to communicate with instructors in her native language and showed such enthusiasm in her willingness to participate. It was beautiful. We would welcome the opportunity again in the future!”  –K-8 Principal
  • Photo of Flamenco performer raising her hand in a choreographed movement, with students following behind her
  • “It felt good to be myself in school.” –6th grade student
  • “I personally saw students who, in my experience, have never been willing to speak in a group, let alone dance, do both without fear or hesitation.  Students who participated have asked to join band – they want to have more opportunities to participate in music.  Students in subsequent meetings have asked to learn more about Senegalese cultures.” –K-8 Music teacher
  • “It felt like the best days ever.” –5th grade student
  • Aya Shabu, in front, leads a group of students in an African dance

PO Box 418
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919-542-0394
Email Us

 

Subscribe to Our E-News

Proud member of Arts NC and Designated County Partner to the NC Arts Council
Copyright © 2025 Chatham Arts Council • Website by Tomatillo Design