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“Sistahs” And Others Have Their Say At Ciceros
BY DEANNA K. ERUTTI

Patricia Cole, SCIII founder

In a packed, darkened room, young spoken word artists took to the stage to deliver a little piece of their mind. The open mic night, dubbed “Sistah Speak” is sponsored by Skirt Chasers III, LLC (SCIII) and Sapphic Sistahs, and is a monthly event held every third Sunday at Cicero’s in the Loop from 8-11 p.m.

After a brief series of announcements about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a few heckles from the guys in the audience about breasts, the artists were handed the mic. “Pussy Water” were the first words out of the performer’s mouth.

As an African American, lesbian-produced event, Sistah Speak specifically caters to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) artists. The organization originally embarked upon a mission to specifically gather African American lesbian artists.

"We decided the community is way too big and diverse to set limits, so, we opened it up to anyone who wants to come in and share," said Patricia Cole, one of the SCIII founders.

What is spoken word, the language of Sistah Speak? Cole had this to say:

"Spoken word, if I were going to compare it to anything, is probably the soul of hip hop and rap. It is that particular style and groove and feel that does not require music, just the music of the heart — the heart pounding, the heart beating, the depth of the heart that’s spoken without the benefit of music. It’s something that reaches out and grabs you, just like hip hop, you find yourself repeating some of the lines, the same way you would if you were listening to DMX or 50 Cent. It reaches out and grabs you."

Apparently, others agree. Attendance was at a high this last Sunday, with around 60 people packing the tables and stools surrounding the stage. The $5 cover charge affords anyone in the room the opportunity to pick up the mic, no previous experience required, and, as an added benefit, you can take notes from established poets who spin their rhythmic genius right alongside the newbies.

"We have people who have never spoken at an open mic, ever — they show up, we make them feel welcome, and they come back!" said Cole of the good vibe at the events.

Though once housed at Llewellyn’s Pub, in the Central West End, SCIII has settled in at Cicero’s, and has to pay the $200 fee for the venue whether enough people show up or not. To that end, Cole says they are searching for donors interested in a philanthropic venture. A good cause that gives a voice to a wide spectrum of ages and backgrounds, the open mic hits the 18+ market, and is definitely an adult feature.

"We have social-political poets, poets who speak about love, socio-economic differences, and poets who talk about sex, sex, and sex!" said Cole, with enthusiasm. "I think the atmosphere of being a first-time poet on open mic night — or virgins, as we call them — it’s cathartic."

"If you’re one of those really shy people, it gives you the opportunity to burst right out of that shell in a sly kinda way. You’re undercover, because you’re behind the mic and that provides a shield for you."

Dorian Hebert was the first featured artist, and of spoken word said, "I like doing it because it’s a way for me to get all of the things on my mind out, and I can express myself and be me." A Louisiana native, Hebert has been performing for five years, having just moved to St. Louis in September.

Cole, an avid spoken word fan and poet, has a good eye, but lets the audience decide who’s good enough to return as a feature:

"If we get the feedback from the audience, and if it’s somebody who I think is really reaching people and getting into different kinds of poetry and spoken word, I’ll ask them if they could be available the next month to do a featured segment."

With so few events catering to the GLBT African American community, Cole feels that Sistah Speak, which just celebrated its one-year anniversary, provides an alternative to the conventional form of socialization.

If you have an event you’d like to plan in connection with Sistah Speak, or are looking for support, you can contact SCIII at 314-903-5901.

"You don’t always have to go to a bar to meet a smooth and beautiful, African American sister, you don’t have to do that," said Cole, smiling. "You can come out and get to some of our events and who knows who you’ll meet — maybe the next Ms. Right, or just the Ms. Right Now."

You can e-mail Deanna Erutti at deannaerutti@earthlink.net.

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