May 12, 2009 1:24 PM

Obamas To Host Poetry Jam At White House

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
White House
(CBS)
This evening, the president and first lady will host what Michelle Obama's press office describes as "an evening celebrating poetry, music and the spoken word in the East Room of the White House."

That's right: The first family is hosting a poetry jam.

Guests for the event include James Earl Jones, novelist Michael Chabon, jazz singer Esperanza Spalding, pianist Eric Lewis and Lin-Manuel Miranda, star of Broadway's "In The Heights." It will be streamed live beginning at 7:45 pm ET at http://www.whitehouse.gov/.

In December, Mr. Obama said he and his wife planned to "open up the White House and remind people this is the people's house." He specifically said he would host performances of jazz and classical music as well as poetry readings.

The Obama White House has previously hosted concerts from Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and others.

(AP)
As White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers made clear in an email to Lynn Sweet, tonight's event is not a poetry "slam" – which is different than a poetry "jam."

"Slam is a competition," she noted. "There will be no competition."

Here, via the New York Times, is a poem by President Obama that was published in the Spring 1981 issue of Occidental College poetry and fiction journal "Feast." It is entitled "Underground."

Under water grottos, caverns
Filled with apes
That eat figs.
Stepping on the figs
That the apes
Eat, they crunch.
The apes howl, bare
Their fangs, dance,
Tumble in the
Rushing water,
Musty, wet pelts
Glistening in the blue.

Add a Comment See all 31 Comments
by Questionews May 12, 2009 7:04 PM EDT
You forgot about that court order against you from last year. You are NEVER allowed to use it. Remember that law? It was passed to protect idiots from making themselves look more idiotic.
Posted by raflin1 at 4:01 PM : May 12, 2009

So what's that make Eminem??
Reply to this comment
by Questionews May 12, 2009 6:59 PM EDT
You were lookin for an excuse to post the N word.
Posted by gravyboat45 at 3:40 PM : May 12, 2009

No. I'm a white guy so it's illegal for me to use the "N" word. I'm only allowed to reference a black man using it.
I thought everybody knew that?
Reply to this comment
by gravyboat45 May 12, 2009 6:40 PM EDT
Now it's that just a lovely little song to play at your daughter's next birthday party at Chucky Cheese??
:
Posted by Questionews

You were lookin for an excuse to post the N word.
Reply to this comment
by Questionews May 12, 2009 6:27 PM EDT
Special guest will be Snoop Dog, he has some real great poetry,then 50cent will cap off the evening with some of his wonderful love songs.
Posted by specialty8

Does it get itchy underneath your Klan hat?
Posted by texasbeta at 3:09 PM : May 12, 2009

In case you wish to know what his satire was refering to, here's a taste of what ol Fitycent puts out. (Slightly edited for CBS censors)

"Back up chump, you know Biggie Smalls grips it quick
And kicks it quick, you know how black nigggas get
With the hoods fatigues with the boots with trees
Smokin weed, flippin ki's, makin crazy G's
Hittin' buckshots at nigggas that open spots
On the avenue, take my loot, and I'm baggin you
Pimpin hoes that drive Volvo's and Rodeos
Flash the Roll, make her wet, in her pantyhose
Dam, a niggga style is unorthodox
Grip the glock, when I walk down the crowded blocks
Just in case a ***** wanna act out
I just black out, and blow they motherphuckin back out
That's a real niggga for ya"

Now it's that just a lovely little song to play at your daughter's next birthday party at Chucky Cheese??
:
Reply to this comment
by heavynne May 12, 2009 6:27 PM EDT
The white camelot". Gimme a freaken break

Definitely. What's difference between camelot and what President Obama is doing. One of you one here brought that up? So enlighten us.
Reply to this comment
by budmag06 May 12, 2009 6:16 PM EDT
"Does it get itchy underneath your Klan hat?" Please don't insult anyone by calling them a Democrat!
Texasbeta, please do your homework and see what party supported the Klan.
Reply to this comment
by texasbeta May 12, 2009 6:09 PM EDT
Special guest will be Snoop Dog, he has some real great poetry,then 50cent will cap off the evening with some of his wonderful love songs.
Posted by specialty8

Does it get itchy underneath your Klan hat?
Reply to this comment
by heavynne May 12, 2009 5:55 PM EDT
Before you start spewing, President Obama gets more done before breakfast every morning than Shrub did in eight years.

Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by heavynne May 12, 2009 5:54 PM EDT
can you imagine what would have been said about bush if he had hosted a "poetry jam"? Can you imagine what would have been said about bush if he had scared the beejeezus out of NYC for a photo op? Or had done a photo op with a pirate?
Posted by jgg00000008 at 11:21 AM : May 12, 2009
+ report abuse + permalink

Yes, nothing would have been said. And what the hell is Camelot, a little something white people can relate to? Bush did everything and anything he wanted and nothing was said.
Reply to this comment
by specialty8 May 12, 2009 5:46 PM EDT
questionews,
Yes a very heart warming peice of poetry if I ever heard one. Maybe they will put the lyrics up tomorrow. I hope the pirate doesn't get to emotional over this, it would not be good for his imaage.
Reply to this comment
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