Suheir Hammad - Def Poetry

[UncleElEx]

Perfect poem.

Sad to see comments

from idiots who must

be stupid enough to

think the KKK isn't a

terrorist organization.

[hannaa7191]

my favorite!

[thisisyourwakeup]

i was tearful listening to this. More so in the knowledge that Muslims were not even responsible for this outrage

[submissions72]

54 white people disliked this video.

[thisisyourwakeup]

@submissions72 54 Zionists to be precise

[thisisyourwakeup]

this is the true meaning of poetry. Can I recommend Constantine Cavafy's poem Ithaca about the journey of life

[jmsbink100]

Deep but so true you pick the right place to speak to get that,message out

[zanitzeuken]

McVeigh was one man, but terrorist cells based on religion are many, masked, promise coming death/violence, well funded and facilitated through out the world. Inaccurate comparison at best. Awesome speech though.

[gustopheles]

@zanitzeuken Masked, for example, as the US government. It was a more than apt comparison.

[zanitzeuken]

@gustopheles but the US gov't is made up of all races, creeds, and beliefs for the purposes of profit where the groups i mentioned are not and are focused on violent murder... I fail to appreciate your point. McVeigh does not represent the whole white race because he was a singular lunatic that attacked a domestic target without warning as opposed to the constant threats/attacks in the name of Islam.

[gustopheles]

@zanitzeuken The comparison is this: a white man who terrorizes is a white terrorist. An Arab man who terrorizes is SIMPLY AN ARAB.

Look, your lingo is exactly why the comparison is so apropos. White Americans are commandos, peacekeepers, liberators. Arabs are terrorists, lunatics, murderers. Yet you call Arab governments 'terrorist cells based on religion'. Terror is always the modus operandi of an Arab, but never that of a white American.

[cathavenfostermom1]

@gustopheles, pardon me, but your saying that because I'm part Arab, even though I was born in this country and am a Christian, I'm a terrorist?

[jenaynay88]

"Affirm life, affirm life..."

[lub783]

"you are either with life or against it" sooo damn true!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheSharkElite]

best ive ever heard. amazing work (:

[EliteZ619]

it's very nice but she shouldn't use the f-word...

May God bring peace to this world, even if it's a long shot.

[IHasHeadphones]

@EliteZ619 Originally she didn't. She added the word "fuck" as a way to correctly convey the harsh emotions that she was feeling

[humrose]

She made me cry.

[MALIRIPPA]

This should have over a million views by now

[mocrowomen88]

So true i feel her pain.

[abewad]

This girl is so beatiful. Shes a genius

[scootigger]

I love this poem. It is beautiful.

It speaks of truth and pain.

[waterp0l02012]

I love this woman. So much. ♥

[dallascbs30]

this made my heart swell so much cause we are all human beings no matter what race we are a bad person bears no color you cant blame the innocent of one mans actions in this world...love this so much had to cry with her words..She has 2 brothers in the Navy in the US and i honor them both,,thak you my brothers for you service..God Bless you all...xoxo

[TheAraber93]

Not a single dry eye !! Stunning...

[katiebrookeee]

so rreal

[darkness101011]

smacked it

[lulul0ve1]

chills everytime.

[Syrabeuesftw]

look up mohammad hammad NYIT.. this guy is her little cousin, he needs to be heard people, hes amazing

[darkness101011]

@Syrabeuesftw that guy that your talking about stole rhymes from amir sulaiman 'dead man walking' and from talib kweli's def poetry jam piece too, and god knows who else he stole rhymes from

listen to the originals they are waaaaay better than that idiotic stuttering fool

[donhonki1]

"Donhonki" "First ever crown court banned uk rap-poet" (2009-2014) #SuperInjunction

[Nixtattoo]

Wow... Powerful-inspirational-epicly emotionally perfect

[justbreatheify]

I just finished watching it over again and am in tears! Straight love from Vancouver!

[justbreatheify]

I hear you gurl! You broke and mended my heart at at the same time!

[UncleLX]

Hard to not feel the truth in her words. Man, wow.

[barrianne]

On 9.12.01, I saw a sign near Union Square promoting a peace vigil, and someone had scrawled "Traitor" on it in big angry capital letters. As Spike said, wake up!

[MrAfrotech]

Wow amazing poem, powerful word.....love it

[Thehijosh]

this is amazing... thank you timothy.

[sk8element24]

@Thehijosh i know right...

[1Lozzix1]

@Thehijosh

TimothyDeLaGhetto did a video on this? What's it called?

[Thehijosh]

@1Lozzix1 no he linked it on twitter if im not mistake.

[ir0ckfartz]

TimothyDeLaPoopHole

[choclatdrop16]

That was an amazing poem. #truth

[KillBillBreeze]

This makes me cry every time. It's so deep and possibly one of the must beautiful poems I've ever heard.

[mrgoodlyfe1989]

She spoke the TRUTH!!!!

[BuddLightbrain]

Bless you!

[HLFracture]

This makes me want to stand up in front of my computer and clap.

[JW2K3]

@HLFracture

lol true 

[barari1]

@HLFracture hahahaha

[buru44]

@HLFracture makes you? More like made me lol.

[buru44]

Umm gorgeous.

[terryrare2]

i think that she did the intro of lupe fiasco's album !!! i swear i'am 99% sure

[SalehUddin1986]

@terryrare2 according to the notes it was Sarah Green.

[heyheyheyloser84]

"I've read too many books to believe what I'm told."

best quote ever.

[anyonechagt]

I keep saying "Stop clapping! I'm trying to hear!"

[grazieda3]

grazie

[ElonoreKeselman524]

Download the audio from this video at searchripgrab doht cohm.

[MrStartingGun]

Wow, just wow. Powerful stuff.

[sweetenedbuns]

What a wonderful woman.

[livelovelaugh127]

Amazing.

[Karmaunc]

poetry isn't normally my thing but this is awesome

[slightlyflawed]

Its crazy how timely this is, this many years later

[claudiayarroyo]

hits me in the same spot since I first watched this back in 2002.. almost a decade later and this poem continues to have the same impact ..

[marc15yo]

Wow, wow. wonderfully said. I still can't believe this. It's wonderful.

[nuffsaid1429]

I love this poem... More I love that there are no ignorant comments. good things only last so long in this life

[5H4L4]

SHEE MURKEDD IT SNMMM!

[RAZTHEPOET]

wow im in tears

[plms09]

wow wow wow

[jervie40]

I am in Tears!!!!!!!!

[artswebshow]

This is a very good reading.

Very enjoyable

[Crazitude]

over there is over here.

[julieteaston]

Amazing. You have such a strong, beautiful voice. :)

[zahzoopitts]

I saw this on def poetry jam a few weeks after 9-11. it still the image i carry with me of that time...her words...the images she makes with her words..."...please...don't let it be anyone who looks like my brothers..."

and now, more than even then, things have gone so wrong...we need her voice more than ever...

[HanoD19]

@zahzoopitts You know what the name of the poem is?

[MusicISlove9224]

@HanoD19 First Writing Since

[HanoD19]

@MusicISlove9224 Thanks :)

[barari1]

@HanoD19 First writing since

[MrGreen55555]

So speechless.

[lafemmefatalle]

Brilliant. Thank for sharing a part of your soul. Namaste

[ghina03]

I'm speechless at the power of this woman's words. WOW

[empoweryou2me]

感动。

[LikMyFace]

That was so beautiful! I... No words. Thank you for that.

[darkness101011]

*crying*

[Hashpotato]

this is the kind of poetry that people need to be hearing these days. it should be spread far and wide. ignorance and apathy are killing society.

[TheNobleMoor]

Beautiful truth. Media picks your enemies... Who's next.

[daynaGratefull]

This is such a moving piece. First Writing Since is still relevant in 2010! That is awesome writing. Thank you for posting this and Suheir is blessed that this was able to come through so loud and so clear.

[FlavaS02]

Sister is real deep....

[Qinyash]

what is truth if not this

[vvolfflovv]

Damn, she really flipped it on us white folks. Powerful, touching and beautiful words.

[TheRoyalFreshness69]

Amazing...I actually got goosebumps.

[libertyjusticeforal1]

IF EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WAS AS THOUGHTFUL AND LOVING AS HER WE WOULD HAVE A PEACEFUL WORLD.

GOD BLESS YOU SISTER.

[TabaquiJackal906]

Amazing, beautiful, and utterly true. Affirm life.

[encryptedreality0]

I am for life,

but no life for zioNISTS

[IdentityUnknown89]

@encryptedreality0 then you're not for life.

[seraphimra]

@encryptedreality0 Then you are not for life. Just more rhetoric. More deceit, more hate. Under your rule, how many would perish before you let life be lived?

[encryptedreality0]

@seraphimra life is limited to good people.. Bad, corrupt murderers dont deserve life.. because they will take more life, take one life save 10... may israhell and their supporters perish in hell on Earth

[seraphimra]

@encryptedreality0 You exist in delusions and fear, which is exactly NOT life or life-supporting. The Haavara Agreement is a unconcionable thing that transpired and should be immediately remedied. Until all life is considered as equal then disparities in all aspects of life shall continue, however well intentioned you may be. 'What we hate most in others is what we deny in ourselves. What we love most about others is what we desire for ourselves.' 'Eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind'

[encryptedreality0]

@seraphimra its not for you to tell me where I exist and where I may not.

[blackstars56]

@encryptedreality0 LMAO i agree brotha!!

[euqip]

Outstanding!

[janybarros]

"Carry one another"

[ElitistSaviour]

omg, oh my god, this was amazing.

[kam009]

I love this. can listen to it a thousand times.. Beautiful words

[na923]

@kam009 me too...I think I have listened to this about 30 times...and everytime it touches my heart.

[iLikeMyMakeUpInAmess]

suheir is awesome.

[LoveHugsnHipHopSoul]

It's beautiful shit like this that got this show canceled. :(

[PriyaD27]

Beautiful and STRONG words.

[JJULSTEDT]

thank u suheir i hope god be with u and keep u strong and beautiful. you speak the truth from your hart. and u let people know about what is gowing on in middle east we love you .MASHALLAH

[YoungBrandonJennings]

DEEP

[renkee530]

she is fucking amazing

[gmf20002]

shes so REAL!!!!

[bukkietime101]

Masha'Allah

[thecharredremain]

"I have never owned pain that needs to spread like that..." damn.

[TheVadim1985]

A FIRM LIFE!!!!!!!!

[AminAmin22]

Affirm*

i.e. strengthen....establish....rec­ognise

[litafanforlife]

i love listening to her

[RoseTruth]

she is something to aspire to, if i could get to a point where i can express my inner soul or the souls of those who don't get to speak, in such an eloquent manner, i hope it's somewhere near as touching and heartfelt as this.

[amber1987000]

very deep! very true! POWERFUL WORDs

[FreedomValentine]

It's almost as if there is nothing on the paper, as if everything is flowing from her mouth without preparation. And it makes me so proud and yet confused to be a Muslim.

[abc123987ful]

@FreedomValentine how are you confused to be a muslim? what??

[CallmezTNguyen]

"Assume they know me, or that I represented a people, or that a people represented an evil, or that evil is as simple as a flag and words on a page."

[SaudiSpirit]

Very touching

[JabesSterling]

This made me cry. So inspiring.

[soukz911]

speeachless...

[blendingginseng]

Absolutely incredible...

[bunnyxo2]

Wow.. one of the best performances I've ever seen on Def Poetry. She speaks the truth. I'm not Arab, or even Middle Eastern, but I see the way people stereotype and judge without even knowing what's truly going on.

[sergio17jaar]

in one word.. Damn... Such an eyeopener.. Seeing and hearing the perspective for once in a while from the other side.. Great speaker..

[michweinersuckmydick]

beautiful...........

[Ethopiangurl]

that was deep

[Tifably]

Wow. One of my best friends is Muslim, she'd love to hear this... She's a writer too (;

[pkjosh92]

fuck...

[jaypaliboi]

amazing.........an eye opener......true & wise...such talent with words just makes me wanna listen to more well said words.

[fantacygurl14]

man i swear american s think we dont suffer.....u have NO idea wat arabs ha gone through...

[neisharie]

crying so hard right now. this is beautiful.

[mznonchalant08]

-Her power of wordsx is crazi yo i love it.

[wow000999]

'and not way his soul down'....i cried when she said that....

[originalwinapina]

wow...powerful...soo true..

[asd4asd]

We are happy enough now and if ruling the world means all people have to be Muslims then this is great since people have their own free well its their choice and own decision to take , so you keep silence .

[Tamim992000]

Got me teary eyed more than anything..

[Plottoberry]

She never fails to make me cry. Goodness, that was beautiful.

[analyst2004]

poetry is a wise mans cure to his feelings of expression giving him a solution to his thoughts

quoted by me lol :-)

[pjmacdougall]

"The lines of tribe shall soon dissolve." From the inauguration speech of President Barack Obama

[fantacygurl14]

this is the best poem i hav heard in a long time, it truly is the best..it makes me want to cry and mostly defend my rights as an arab women. It makes me want to cry for those who suffered.

[trista2nv]

Extraordinary, beautiful words.

[Kralice4u]

These words are so touching that they have spread around the world. I am in USA and my dear little brother from Morocco shared them with me. I am sure that your words have even touched GOD. May he rain blessings upon you!

[msUnderstood87]

powerful words

[bmx12s]

amazing !!! :D

[chrispriveco]

A beautiful woman with a gorgeous poem...

[tscharmer]

Your words speak truth, a truth that pierces through all darkness! Please keep speaking ... your words rain freedom!

[stephenville100]

man! ....powerful.........

[snook0524]

I am just an average, white, middle-aged dude. There is nothin special about my politics or viewpoints.  With that said, I would like to say this is STRONG and BEAUTIFUL WORD. Thank you, Suheir, for the inspiration to speak my own mind and truth, hopefully with a measure of beauty added.

[ChuckMonsey]

Suheir Hammad is the real deal!

[Berra0199]

Well... She's speaking the truth.

[MrXiaolong2009]

Thanks...

[texasaggie85]

sad day.. this helps.

[shekeelajones]

Provoking Thought

[LodemaiT]

Her words are powerful enough

[klavi1991]

one world one love..and  thats wt i call deeeeeep.

[spyhunter41]

yes, very good and powerful

[JackFertig]

WONDERFUL! Thank you, sister!

[tiarabaranes]

deep

[AlizarinRipley]

Very well spoken and beautiful!

[erihope]

a century history condensed in a piece of paper?

... u r excellent

[leileilani137]

Beautiful. One of my fav's ;o)

[dee4l2]

real talk

[Prajmo]

amazing