Minneapolis Freestyle

Series produced by KBEM

Series image

Minneapolis High School Students, with the help of a team of educators and poets, were encouraged to write poetry. The poems created by the students are in some cases hard-hitting, and in others, cute.

Poetry allows you to say things you would not express any other way. Today, high school students are writing a lot of poetry. Some of it is influenced by hip hop and rap, or challenges authority in what is being called freestyle poetry. But it is not all angry or challenging. Some students are creating poetry about family life and their friends, seemingly unconnected with pop culture.Minneapolis Freestyle contains selected poems that express the great range of emotions and points of view that collectively represent the student voice.


62 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Work at the Cookie Cart
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
The Cookie Cart is a north side Minneapolis business which gives many high school kids their first jobs, as is the case with this poet, Darrien.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:19
  • Purchases: 1
My Hard Life
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Brian gives us a detailed description of how hard it has been for him to get by.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 02:06
  • Purchases: 1
My Favorite Thing
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
It seems that most kids, Yahye included, like to write about their favorite activities.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:11
  • Purchases: 1
Yahye's take on Eid
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Yahye, a young participant in the Luxton after-school program reflects on the Islamic holiday of Eid.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:35
  • Purchases: 1
Cute Boy
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
SIndus, a participant at the Luxton after-school program writes about a cute boy.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:14
  • Purchases: 1
Summer
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Samiya, a participant in the Luxton after-school program tells us about her favorite season: Summer.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio and KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:34
  • Purchases: 2
My Favorite Things
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Mohammed, a young participant in the Luxton after-school program, tells us about his favorite things.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:18
  • Purchases: 1
Eid
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Eid, an Islamic,a twice annual celebration is a favorite holiday of many Islamic students. Farhan, of the Luxton after-school program, contributes ...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:32
  • Purchases: 1
My Favorite Things. Alex, a participant in the Luxton after-school program, thinks about his favorite things.
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Alex is not shy about telling about his favorite things.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:53
  • Purchases: 1
Sunny Day
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
A Minneapolis High School student reflects on a beautiful, sunn Minnesota day.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: :59
  • Purchases: 1
Rainy Day
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
A young Somali student reflects about gloomy rainy weather

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 01:15
  • Purchases: 1
I Am from Islam
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Compelling poem regarding where an Islamic student comes from. To this student, Islam, not a country, is the main thing.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 03:26
  • Purchases: 1
To My Unborn Family
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
A young Somali high school student expresses how she intends to feel about her future family

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 02:36
  • Purchases: 1
Somali-American Somali Relations
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Ikraan gives her opinion of the Somali leader’s speech to USA Somali

  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 02:07
Hooded Girls
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Two Heritage HS girls recite their poem in praise of traditional Islamic values regarding women.

Bought by KSRQ and WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 18, 2014
  • Length: 03:18
  • Purchases: 2
Minneapolis Freestyle: Minneapolis School Poetry 2012-13
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Caption: jazz 88 logo
In the 2012-13 school year, a team of poets and educators helped Minneapolis public school students write poetry reflecting their experiences. The ...

Bought by KVSC


  • Added: Nov 13, 2013
  • Length: 28:39
  • Purchases: 1
You Left Me Standing All Alone
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Caption: Harrison Education Center
Daquan, a student at Harrison High School in Minneapolis laments losing a best friend.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2014
  • Length: 02:01
  • Purchases: 1
Troubles
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Dayquan, a student at Harrison High School in Minneapolis, writes about moving forward despite having to struggle

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2014
  • Length: 01:39
  • Purchases: 1
My Days are long and Weary
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Dayquan, a student at Harrison Hish School in Minneapolis writes of his heartbreaks.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2014
  • Length: 01:39
  • Purchases: 1
Motherless
From: KBEM
Series: Minneapolis Freestyle
Piece image
Dayquan writes about his struggles losing his mother to death at an early age.

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2014
  • Length: 02:27
  • Purchases: 1

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