Black History Celebration Slam! | Anacostia | Host: MalPractice

Join us for a powerful Poetry Slam in honor of Black History Month at Busboys and Poets Anacostia.

Spoken word and poetry are deeply rooted in Black history. Long before textbooks and traditional archives, stories, resistance, celebration, and truth lived through voice — from African griots to freedom songs, from the Civil Rights Movement to today’s stages. Spoken word has always been more than performance; it has been memory, protest, joy, survival, and vision.

This slam celebrates that living tradition.

A poetry slam is a competitive live event where poets perform original work and are scored by judges selected from the audience. Scores reflect both content and delivery, where voice, presence, and authenticity matter just as much as the words themselves.

Experience two rounds of high-intensity poetry as artists bring truth, fire, vulnerability, and brilliance to the mic — and the audience helps crown the winner.

Tickets:
$5.00 + tax and fees online
$8.00 (tax and fees included) at the door

Prize:
1st Place Winner Takes All – $100 cash

The Rules

• Slammers must arrive 30 minutes prior to showtime
• Performance order determined randomly
• All poems must be original work
• Each poet has 3 minutes, 30 seconds
(plus a 10-second grace period; overtime results in deductions)
• Time begins when the poet speaks or engages the audience
• No props, costumes, or instruments
• Poems performed by one person only
• Reading from paper or devices permitted
(unless used as a prop)

• Six competitors eliminated after Round One

Strongly Encouraged Themes:
Black Joy, Black Liberation, Black History, Black Future

Prize: $100 cash

Hosted By: MalPractice

You won’t get five minutes into a conversation with Malachi Byrd without hearing about Washington, D.C. An author, teacher, songwriter, and arts advocate from the District, Malachi believes creative writing carries real superpowers. An African-American Studies graduate of Princeton University, he adopted the name MalPractice as a reflection of his commitment to mastering his crafts — staying ready so he never has to get ready.

A vibrant presence in D.C.’s arts scene, Practice is known for bringing energy, connection, and intention into every room. He often asks, “If art carries healing properties, why not use them?”