In May 2017, George MacLeod, assistant professor of international languages and cultures, French, appeared on the Haitian radio station Signal FM to discuss his ongoing project on slam poetry and memory in contemporary Haiti. At the invitation of the Haitian slam duo HD Symphony (comprised of Samuel Emmanuel and François Shelo), MacLeod appeared on the weekly show “SLAMORAP” which showcases both recorded and live performances of Haiti’s top slam poets and rappers. The co-hosts, Will Jean Julien and Laurie César, asked MacLeod about his research, his impressions of Haiti and of the slam poetry scene. In a more light-hearted moment, César coaxed MacLeod into singing one or two lines from a poem he had written. “The hosts, along with the producer Jonathan J. Alexandre, were incredibly welcoming and generous with their time,” said MacLeod. “I appreciated the opportunity to share my positive impressions of the Haitian artists I had met and their commitment to effecting social change in Haitian society and, in particular, provoking critical reflection amongst Haiti’s youth.”
Performed in both French and Kréyol, Haitian slam poetry is uniquely placed to reach both a global Francophone audience as well as the Haitian population, the majority of which speaks only Kréyol. In addition to published research on Haitian slam, MacLeod sees the potential to integrate slam poetry into the classroom as a means to teach both language and contemporary Francophone culture. “These artists consider themselves poets first and musicians second, and so the literary quality of their work is quite high,” he said. “I think there is tremendous potential for this kind of artistic creation as a point of contact between St. Mary’s College students and the broader Francophone world.”