So lets celebrate with a little punany... poetry that is. In case you don't know, "punany" is an Afro-Caribbean slang term for vagina, and is also the name of a group of poets and a project, started in Oakland, CA, that "celebrate female sexuality and promote safer sex and sexual empowerment through erotic literature and theatrics." Headed by founder Jessica Holter, the Punany Poets work to bring awareness about the ways in which black women are affected by HIV/AIDS, through their live theater and non-profit organization AFACTA. They also highlight other important issues, such as sexual abuse and poverty and celebrate self love, alternative lifestyles and the power of the punany. You can see why they are the center of my thesis! In addition to their live shows and organization, there are also books of poetry, DVDs and CDs.

The following video showcases Jessica Holter at her best. She performs a poem from her book Verbal Penetration, where she recalls accounts of her molestation and informs the audience of why she writes. When I first saw her perform this on the group's The Second Sin DVD I was blown away. I thought, wow, she writes for the same reasons that I write. I wanted to share it with you because I feel that she may also write for some of the same reasons as some of you.

Revolution of a Poet - Jessica Holter - Verbal Penetration