by John Reid, Editor

“I am master of my spoken words and slave to those which remain unspoken.” – Ankita Singhal

For the past decade Spirits and Lyrics Entertainment has enlightened, educated and empowered audiences with dazzling spoken word artists and musicians. Each word they emote, whether it’s from the microphone or guitar, paints a beautiful array of images that play through the minds of those who attend. It was never more evident than this past Saturday evening at Jirani’s Coffeehouse in Manassas, where the purple lights set the scene for inspiration into the midnight hour. Mr. Luciano opened the festivities by creating a party-like atmosphere with comedic barbs and had the crowd singing along with every “Click, click…shhh.”

Each verse by the artists both young and old were paved with stories on the road of redemption. While some spoke of overcoming personal tragedies in song, others gave expressions of their faith, and some gave the clarion call to justice for an America deep in division. There were harmonious cyphers, therapeutic sessions, and monologues on the beauty of being black and brown.

The two featured artists brought the crowd to their feet with proclamations of joy and unity. Afia Chin announced that Jirani’s will be hosting a celebration in March for Labor of Love, a non-profit organization dedicated to the provision of educational and healthy living resources for Ghanaian families. Following her was author Kim B. Miller, affectionally known as the “Haiku Queen,” who electrified the crowd with her gift of taking 17 syllables and entering the consciousness of the people with delight, energy and purpose.

I had the chance to speak with an attendee at the event (let’s call her Shelley) and asked what about Spirits and Lyrics that attracted her to come out. “I just love the ambiance and anytime they’re in the area,” she responded, “I have to come back.” That is what the power of the spoken word does: it draws, it entices, and it unveils feelings of pride and peace. For more information on Spirits and Lyrics check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/clickclickshhh/.