J Gourdin, a senior student success specialist at The University of New Mexico African American Student Services, will present poems they created in a spoken word presentation for the City of Albuquerque Juneteenth celebration this weekend. The holiday marks the emancipation of African-descended Americans who had been enslaved in the United States.

Gourdin holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mass Communication from Frostburg State University in Maryland. They are now in the third year working for the university as AASS staff but also taking classes.

“I'm currently taking an independent study to explore a topic for a potential area of sociological research. Just reaffirming myself and my academic writing before I make a decision on my next degree.”

They will be guest lecturing for AASS Summer Bridge “on being an agent of change and using our platform to create progress” this summer.

In their 10-minute set for the Albuquerque Juneteenth celebration, Gourdin will perform three poems about cultural appropriation, respectability politics, Black queer identity, and the Black dilemma of voting.  

“I thought… ‘What can I share to spark constructive conversation with love?’ I'm really proud of the composition as a whole and I can't wait to offer it up on Juneteenth.”

A spoken word performer as well as a poet, Gourdin wrote all of their own poems, reworking some old drafts and combining them with new work. The set took about six years to write.

Gourdin started their spoken career in Baltimore in a high school poetry recitation competition, Poetry Out Loud, but used pieces written by other creators.

“In 2013, I was state runner-up to Blessed Sheriff, who would later win the national title. It was a huge platform and I resented that the words I performed weren't my own. That was the last time I performed other people's poetry.”

Gourdin no longer competes in poetry events but instead believes in collaboration and support with fellow artists.

“I did slams throughout college but fell out of love with competing. Pitting poets and their messages against one another for money is gross. Granted, competition is about skill but creating also requires vulnerability and introspection or social critique. Those all get muddied when money and ego are involved. I appreciate being able to honor my own vulnerability in community, and I hope my poems shake things up... My poet and creative friends remind me that we're vessels for these ideas. We support each other in our draft droughts and create space for a whole lot of critique of our work, of our trauma and drama, of our community and especially the world we inherited.”

“I've been able to chart my own path at here UNM and I'm proud that I've found my fit with African American Student Services. It is a blessing to be a blessing to Black people. There is so much opportunity to be seen and heard, I'm just making sure I have worthwhile things to say.”

J Gourdin, poet and AASS student success specialist

Gourdin reflected on the success of Amanda Gorman, the young poet who electrified the nation with her spoken word presentation during the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

“I've been proud to see a Black child hold the nation's attention for so long. She's secured her place in poetry early and I definitely want to applaud her for that. It did make me think how many more Amanda Gormans we'd be able to celebrate if the arts were better supported in Black and Brown communities.”

Gourdin has found a supportive environment at UNM for her work.

“I've been able to chart my own path at here UNM and I'm proud that I've found my fit with African American Student Services. It is a blessing to be a blessing to Black people. There is so much opportunity to be seen and heard, I'm just making sure I have worthwhile things to say.”

Gourdin noted that Belinda Wallace, assistant professor in the Department of English Language and Literature, is looking to publish Black queer writers in a peer-reviewed journal this fall and urged others to submit their own work.

“Soon I'll be submitting some work to the Black Queer Subjectivity issue of the Journal on Women, Gender, and Families of Color. I wouldn't have known of this chance to get published if it wasn't for Dr. Belinda Wallace. I'm grateful to be in community with such dope uplifting faculty.  I'm looking forward to finding more ways to affirm the sense of belonging for students here who face the same world as me.”

See Gourdin and many other artists Saturday, June 19, at the Albuquerque Juneteenth celebration on Civic Plaza. Gourdin’s set is at 3:45 p.m. on the main stage.

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