Milwaukee teen uses poetry to spark change among youth

MILWAUKEE — If you see Jonah Denah get in entrance of a mic, you cease and hear. Not solely as a result of it sounds nice, however as a result of there is a deeper message.

Denae is utilizing her poetry to focus on the struggles and successes teenagers in Milwaukee are dealing with.

After reciting Langston Hughes on the age of 6, Denae knew she felt at dwelling in entrance of the mic.

She was born and raised in Milwaukee and has at all times battled to remain on observe with all of the adverse influences round her. from gun violence to reckless driving.

“It is a lot violence and it is actually onerous to flee that,” Denae mentioned.

Nonetheless, it wasn’t till her freshmen yr of highschool that she turned to poetry to remain on observe.

Denae additionally turned to TRUE SKOOL to hone in on her abilities. Via the after college periods, she realized to go after alternatives and never anticipate a hand out.

Three years in and he or she eloquently turns ache into objective, and her friends get it.

TMJ4’s Ubah Ali requested Denae the place the poems come from.

“I see a lot simply as a younger particular person right here. I can simply be strolling to the nook retailer and two bullets will fly,” Denae mentioned.

This soft-spoken highschool junior caters to the youth not like adults can and it is by way of her poetry and music.

Considered one of her strains talks in regards to the many stolen automobiles: “It is a stollie they whipping who you position with.”

Denae hopes to encourage her friends to do higher by way of her phrases.

“Go searching and see how one can higher your self or higher the atmosphere round you,” she mentioned.

For now, she’s targeted and excited to placed on for her metropolis, Milwaukee.

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