In celebration of National Poetry Month, the MSU Museum invites the community to the Blurred Realities Poetry Slam on April 9, 2026, an evening of original spoken word performance exploring how truth is shaped and challenged in today’s media landscape. Co-hosted by nationally acclaimed poet Mahogany L. Browne, the program brings together Michigan State University students and members of the greater Lansing community for a dynamic night of creative expression.
The event will feature original performances scored by community judges selected at random from the audience, with three cash prizes awarded. Presented in partnership with the RCAH Center for Poetry, the evening will also include a featured reading by Browne.
Inspired by the MSU Museum’s Blurred Realities exhibition, the event invites participants and audiences to explore how truth is shaped, challenged, and reimagined in today’s information landscape. The exhibition brings together artists and interdisciplinary thinkers to examine perception, bias, artificial intelligence, and digital manipulation.
“At the MSU Museum, we see poetry as a powerful catalyst for creativity, connection, and inquiry,” said Natasha T. Miller, MSU Museum’s Community Engagement Manager and co-host of the event. “This program invites participants to engage the ideas at the heart of Blurred Realities through personal expression alongside one of the most compelling voices in contemporary poetry.”
A writer, playwright, organizer, and educator, Browne is widely recognized for her work across poetry, performance, and young adult literature. She is the author of Vinyl Moon, Chlorine Sky, and Black Girl Magic, as well as the award-winning collection Chrome Valley.
Reflecting on the role of poetry in community spaces, Browne emphasized both its creative and connective power:
“Natasha T. Miller is one of our greatest treasures. She reminds the community of the power of poetry through communal gatherings and literary liberation,” said Browne. While I do not believe that poetry is not therapy, I believe it has healing properties. Those properties can be activated when we remember the wound, notice the atrocity, and decide to use those findings as a blueprint for our witnessing. T. Miller and MSU Museum offer a space for gathering communities, a space where writers from all levels can learn.”
The poetry slam is part of the MSU Museum’s ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and conversation across disciplines. Free and open to the public, the Blurred Realities Poetry Slam welcomes both longtime poetry enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike. Light refreshments will be provided.