Davey D sits down with Aleah of Youth Speaks during National Poetry Month to reflect on the organization’s 30 year legacy and its ongoing work cultivating young voices across the Bay Area. Aleah, who manages youth programs, frames Youth Speaks as a vital “third space” where young people learn cultural history, develop their voice, and engage in storytelling rooted in Black and Brown oral traditions. She connects poetry’s evolution alongside Hip Hop, emphasizing that both forms have long served as tools for expression, resistance, and community building.
A key theme in the conversation is the gap between generations and how young people access cultural history. Aleah explains that many youth are disconnected from earlier movements like the Black Arts Movement due to gaps in formal education. Spaces like Youth Speaks help bridge that divide by passing down knowledge through mentorship, performance, and lived experience. Davey D underscores this point by noting how even iconic groups and figures can feel distant to younger audiences without intentional exposure.
They also explore how poetry adapts in the digital age. Aleah describes modern slam poetry as more conversational and rooted in storytelling, moving away from older, stylized cadences. While social media dominates youth culture, she argues that young people are hungry for authentic truth telling. Youth Speaks creates environments where they can step away from online noise, reflect, and express themselves honestly in front of a live audience.
The discussion takes a deeper turn around truth, vulnerability, and the risks of speaking out. Davey D raises concerns about cancel culture, surveillance, and the real consequences young people face for expressing unpopular views. Aleah responds by emphasizing bravery as essential to artistry, while also stressing the need for supportive community spaces where youth can grow, make mistakes, and channel their energy productively.
The conversation closes with a call to action around supporting youth voices, protecting creative spaces, and defending programs like ethnic studies. Aleah highlights the importance of collective power through voice, presence, and community investment, while Davey D points to the broader structural fight to ensure these opportunities are sustained and integrated into public education.
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.
