Crowds Reaction after Poet Marjan Naderi Performs | D.C. Youth Poet Laureate

Marjan Naderi performed at The Lincoln Center in New York City on September 10th, 2022. After her performance, nationally awarded writer and activist Mahagony Brown shared remarks.
To explore more of Marjan's work, visit: www.marjanxpoetry.com
Follow on Instagram for the latest updates and upcoming shows: @marjan.writes
At just 18 years old, Marjan Naderi has accrued accolades typically bestowed upon more seasoned artists. Named the 2020 DC Youth Poet Laureate, Naderi is a Muslim Afghan American author, performer, and educator.
Feeling outcast as a minority in America and yet somehow too American to be accepted by the Afghan community, Naderi’s poetry reconciles her family’s roots with that of her American upbringing. In so doing, she has forged a path for healing and understanding.
“I write because I know the narrative that I hold. I’m aware of how often the narrative of Afghan women, a Muslim woman is shoved to the back of the closet,” she says. By elevating the voices of Afghan American women, Naderi has proven herself a force of nature.
For Naderi, the seed of creative writing was planted when she set out to document her journey of self-discovery and growth. Her work breathes life into overlooked stories while touching on feminism, politics, culture, and family dynamics. Cloaked in a jean jacket emblazed with the phrase “Words not Walls,” Naderi takes the stage to perform her spoken word poetry.
While the themes of her writing-cultural heritage and generational trauma-are heavy subjects, Naderi believes that poetry is a powerful medium for building immediate connections with audiences on the journey to compassion and acceptance.
Curator’s Statement
To meet Marjan Naderi is to find optimism. It is a reminder that the leaders and artistic voices of this next generation are emerging with deep and wide understandings of the world and the power of a single voice. Her poetry and spoken word performances hit powerful chords of relevance and shine a light on the perspectives of young people, particularly those in the Muslim community. Strathmore has been honored to work with Marjan in educational preconcert activities that allow patrons to get closer to the art.
www.strathmore.org/monuments
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