Between the lines of a poet: An interview with Nicole Shante'

In 2016, The REC had the pleasure of featuring dynamic poet Nicole Shante' at #ThePoetWILLBeTelevised! During this brief sit-down with her, we discussed her influences, what she hopes for the future, and her past.

How do you describe your style of poetry and what influences your style?

I write a lot about the body and its connections to systems of oppression. I am devoted to

writing about resistance and healing. As an artist that struggles with depression, I think of

each of poem as an erasure of a suicide note. Stylistically, my experiences as a dancer dictate

my intentionality of a poem’s movement on the page, in my mouth, and throughout my body.

While there are thematic threads, I think of each poem as having its own dance floor. One of

my current poetry mentors has charged me with the task of writing “a poem that can’t be

paraphrased.” My style is committed to nuance and capturing the intricate consequences of

making the conscious decision to live.

Where are you from? Where do you currently reside and how has that affected

your artistry?

My blackness/queerness/womynness/singlemotherness/penniless/poetess makes pinpointing

my origin very difficult. I’m actually kind of obsessed with defining my beginnings, as “home”

is a complicated concept. It probably doesn’t help that I believe in reincarnation. Although my

umbilical cord was cut in a small town in Wisconsin, my mother’s effort to escape poverty

knew no geographical bounds. Consequently, I am a collage of Midwestern accents and

Southern hospitality. My poetry aims to validate the cultural slang, colloquial languages, and

regional vernaculars I’ve encountered during my travels. Since I’ve relocated to the east coast

to teach poetry, an overwhelming amount of students have voiced the abrupt

disconnectedness they confront when reading verse. I feel a social responsibility to honor the

characters that live in our neighborhoods and sit next to us on the subway. My writing

negotiates location and investigates the politics of belonging; in art, in academia, in the

world, and within the body.

Can you recall when you decided to become a poet?

In kindergarten I wanted to be the voice-over for read-along cassette tapes. I have always

loved reading, but was painfully shy and hated reading out loud in class. The amount of relief I

felt when my teacher turned on those read-alongs was so grand I wanted to be that saving

grace for other timid students. Now, I write and perform original poems in front of strangers.

Obviously these are two different vocations, but I guess the desire to connect with others

through literature began in kindergarten. I still feel a bit uncomfortable calling myself a poet,

because I believe the work is more important than the position. William Faulkner says, (this

will be the only time I quote a dead white man) “don’t be a ‘writer’. be writing.”

What type of education did you receive to prepare you for performing? Is it

different now that you are more experienced?

I went to a performing arts high school and entered the slam poetry community at 16. I was

able to participate in Brave New Voices, an international youth poetry slam festival, for two

years and acted as an assistant slam coach in 2010. I fell out of love with slam as I entered

college and began to explore different performance approaches. I dabbled in acting, and

continued dancing. I was introduced to author readings while earning my BA in Poetry and

felt obligated to figure out how I could consolidate these varying performance traditions. My

current performance style has definitely evolved to be more inclusive, in terms of being

accessible to literary newcomers and veterans.

Who are your top 5 poetry influences?

This is a cruel question! Grrrrr! If I must choose 5…

Ntozake Shange

Queen GodIs

Patricia Smith

Danez Smith

Sandra Cisneros

What are the pitfalls and highpoints of being a poet?

(the deepest sigh) Pitfalls: 1. PEOPLE EXPECTING ME TO PERFORM FOR FREE 2. People only

wanting me to book me during February because they need black poems and love poems

High Points: 1. Creating art; keeping myself alive

Who is currently in your iPod?

Bears Like This Too (album) by Spillage Village

Ego Death (album) by The Internet

Rodeo (album) by Travis $cott

“Nintendo Shawty” by Ambre

“Adore You” by NAO

“Bitch Switch” by Leikeli47

“Aye” by DaVido

“Ama Be Happy” by ArchDuke ft. Jenee Jones

Do you have any projects coming up that we should look out for?

I just released a limited edition chapbook entitled The Layover, which will be available for $5! My debut collection for the necks my hips have broken is available on Amazon

and will also be on sale for $10!

How can we stay up to date on your poetry?

IG: @nikkibadapples

nicoleshantewhite.org