Tell the Story, Speak the Truth: Creating a Third Space through Spoken Word Poetry

Young people around the world are engaging in innovative literacy practices through their creation of, and engagement with, spoken word poetry. From community-based slams to school-based workshops to online videos, this genre has become increasingly popular with marginalized youth who have an opportunity to have their often-silenced voices heard and receive instantaneous feedback on their creative work. Situated in Sydney, Australia, the authors used a multicase embedded research approach to investigate how spoken word poetry workshops employ culturally sustaining pedagogy, create a third space for literacy development, and encourage diverse students to develop and strengthen their critical literacy skills. The authors highlight a rich array of diverse voices, explore the instrumental role of mentor poets, and provide teachers with practical approaches to incorporating culturally sustaining pedagogy while enhancing students' critical literacy.