Sunni Patterson: "Wild Women"
سوني باترسون: "نساء جامحات"
Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Sunni Patterson combines the heritage, culture, and traditions of her native town with a spiritual worldview to create powerful music and poetry. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
papier-mâchéd,
limp-like and loveless,
in sandalwood-scented river water,
معطرة بخشب الصندل،
of a mouthful for the greedy.
was more than they could stand.
وغير مثقفة،
hands cuffed and ankles strapped.
مكبلة اليدين ومربوطة الرجلين.
she could never want them back.
أنها لن تبادلهم الشعور ذاته أبدًا.
the mystery of her design.
hypnotized by her kind.
half-hearted, half-soul,
فاتري الأحاسيس، بأنصاف أرواح،
as to who she really was.
from the clouds of their eyes,
through their veins.
over your troubled conscience.
driven through, shot up.
ومُهانًا، تم تخطيه واستهدافه.
Edmund Pettus.
إدموند بيتوس.
"Highway to Nowhere."
لطردهم خارج بالتيمور.
in their bellies,
في أحشائهن،
how they rip and shred.
high consciousness,
شرارة منبهة.
who call for her assistance.
portals to new worlds,
لعوالم جديدة،
from the ways of the guardian,
set your days ablaze.
وارقبوها وهي تُنير أيامكم.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sunni Patterson - PoetOriginally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Sunni Patterson combines the heritage, culture, and traditions of her native town with a spiritual worldview to create powerful music and poetry.
Why you should listen
Emerging from the musical womb that is New Orleans, Sunni Patterson combines the heritage of her native town with an enlightened modern style to create music and poetry that is timeless in its groove. She began her career as a full-time high school teacher, and much of her life since has been devoted to serving as a cultural worker and grassroots activist, using art and poetry to encourage dialogue and healing.
She has been a featured performer at many of the nation's premier spoken-word venues, including HBO's Def Poetry and BET’s Lyric Cafe. She also had the privilege of speaking at the Panafest in Ghana, West Africa and has collaborated with artists and performers, including Hannibal Lokumbe (singing lead vocals for his score, ”King and the Crescent City Moon"), Kalamu Ya Salaam, Sonia Sanchez, Wanda Coleman, Amiri Baraka, Mos Def, Eve Ensler, The Last Poets and many more.
Sunni Patterson | Speaker | TED.com