Exhibitionists·Poetic License

'Mr. Presidential with no credentials': Calling out Trump through spoken word

Refusing to be voiceless during America's changing of the guard, Toronto spoken word artist and activist Shadiya Aidid shares her opinions on the President-elect.

Shadiya Aidid refuses to be voiceless during America's changing of the guard

This poet has some words for President-Elect Donald Trump

8 years ago
Duration 1:11
Refusing to be voiceless during America's changing of the guard, spoken word artist and activist Shadiya Aidid shares her opinions on who she calls "Mr. Presidential with no credentials."

"November 8. Mark the date. It was when America learned it was okay to hate."

Those are the words of Toronto spoken word artist and activist Shadiya Aidid, whose wisdom is at the centre of the first in a new video series here at CBC Arts called "Poetic License." The series invites artists to offer their opinions on new President-elect Donald Trump through spoken word poetry. For Aidid, the invitation sparked a clear refusal to remain voiceless during America's changing of the guard.

"How can one man produce so much pain?" she asks in the above video. "Is it because he inspires others to unleash the hydra that is white male supremacy with his reign?"

Watch Exhibitionists Sundays at 4:30pm (5 NT) on CBC.