Elgin poet to speak to SIUE Charter School students Jan. 27

Many young people love the music and message of such hip hop superstars as Jay-Z, DMX and Snoop Dogg. But when dealing with rap, as well as other cultural influences, young people should consider what goes into both their hearts and heads, according to Chicago-area poet and motivational speaker, Reggie Legend.

Legend, 33, will visit students at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School on Friday. The young poet will be at the school all day, beginning with an assembly at 9:35 a.m. The theme for the school activity is “Authoring Your Destiny – Taking you from what you think you can be to what you never thought you could achieve!” Legend will challenge students to broaden their perspectives on how to make the best of their education, take hold of hope and shape it into destiny. The poet will also hold sessions with students to help improve their writing skills.

Legend is author of the book, "Steel Waters Volume 1: DUPLicate AuthentICITY." In the book, the Christian poet deals with his duality and being torn between two worlds: light and dark, spirit and flesh.

“My mission is to help give young people of this generation a new voice and direction,” Legend said. “Rap influenced me because it was a dominant medium for my culture. But now as a Christian poet, I am dealing with the ill effects that can be associated with rap.”

The poet said he's not trying to “demonize” the popular music or the culture. Legend does, however, point out that there is a dark side of rap, and that the artistic expression has strayed from its original beginnings of calling attention to injustice and giving a voice to the voiceless.

It is for those people, especially youth, who were disenfranchised or felt marginalized, that early rap music first sought out to encourage and uplift, Legend said. To that end, Legend has put his pen to paper.

An excerpt from the poem “Afraid of My Own Strength,” which is featured in his book reads:

“... The untapped potential of our young people

Is unmatched and exponentially unequaled.

Some peak through, but others never scratch the surface.

Stymied by either a lack of resources

Or an untimely lapse in recourses,

Last resorts have blasted fortunes into a status that's worthless.

Forfeited self-worth is a bankruptcy of the soul

That's a forlorn, shell-torn vacancy to behold.

To ignore your core is a flagrancy too bold and foul to sense.

So as the stench's fragrancy is condoned,

A trail of tears heinously unfolds …

As the cadence tolls from blatant doles roused in the pits ... ”

More information about the poet can be found at his website: http://www.steelwaterspoetry.com.

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