State of Our Union: The Watts Prophets

Bringing it home from the other side, The Watts Prophets make a rare New York appearance with State of Our Union, featuring a poetry orchestra made up of local children and very special guests. Rising from the ashes of the 1965 Watts riots and formed at the Watts Writer’s Workshop, The Watts Prophets set their socially and politically conscious poetry to spare, often jazzy musical backing. Racism, poverty, and violence were their everyday reality and provided the thematic groundwork for their powerful and transformative style that laid the foundation for rap. The Watts Prophets remain dedicated community activists today, promoting creative self-expression and the arts to young people around the country.

Part of the Spiegeltent festival.