Poetry in motion

Sarah Jones acts on women's rights

Art can be a powerful communication tool, as Sarah Jones, an African American poet, activist and playwright, proves with her one-woman show, Women Can't Wait … for Equality Now. The poet performed at JMU during April as part of the university's celebration of Arts Week.

Jones' show was commissioned by Equality Now as part of its international campaign against discrimination laws. "Jones really translates feminist theory and politics into an accessible and compelling art form," says Suzanne Bost, English professor and faculty adviser for Sister Speak, JMU's feminist journal. Six campus organizations joined Sister Speak, the University Program Board and the Black Student Alliance in sponsoring the show.

More than 150 students, faculty members and guests gathered to listen to Jones speak about women around the world who suffer under governments and laws that violate their human rights.

In her first monologue, Jones launched into the role of a woman giving a pep talk

to eight women waiting to speak before the United Nations General Assembly. Jones took on the role of each woman by changing her voice and posture and adjusting her scarf to represent different national fashions. In an emotionally charged monologue, Jones portrayed a Jordanian woman whose sister had been killed by her brother in an "honor killing," a legal right afforded to men by Article 340 of Jordan's Penal Code to curb dishonorable acts. Jones continued to emphasize the horrific nature of other social injustices with stories about marital rape and female genital mutilation. "Not even the United States," she says, "is free from social problems and acts of violence against women."

Jones' "vibrant characterizations struck chords in our hearts," says senior English major Jeanine Minge.

"It was exciting to see so many young people, almost half of them men," Bost adds, "walking away with brochures for Equality Now, the international organization dedicated to improving the civil, political, economic and social rights of women."

Prior to her performance, Jones met with 25 students to discuss the role of activism in art. She spoke about how to "stay true to personal ethics and not compromise them for cash, which often comes with fame." She openly criticized women who participate in and endorse the misogynist stereotypes of women as sexual objects in artistic media.

Bost praised the performance, saying, "I loved Jones' energy, enthusiasm and her commitment to talking to students. She wrote in my copy of her book, 'What can I say? I am so moved by the energy on this campus.'"

By Marisa Domenech ('01)