Spoken word vs spoken lies – Amaris Noray speaks her truth

Amaris Noray, gave a powerful spoken word piece at the AFETT Awards & Mentorship Celebration at Government Campus Plaza, Port of Spain on Tuesday. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle
Amaris Noray, gave a powerful spoken word piece at the AFETT Awards & Mentorship Celebration at Government Campus Plaza, Port of Spain on Tuesday. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle

Confronting sexual harassment and sexual abuse may be a challenge for many youth but not for spoken word artiste Amaris Noray.

The teenager has taken it upon herself to tackle the harassment young women face on a daily basis head-on.

In a powerful, spoken word piece, Noray highlighted the everyday discomfort of a young woman as she navigates sexual harassment, inappropriate sexual advances from strangers and family members, and rumours based on stereotyping.

Noray, 17, lays out her story with a description of her main character and the way the public perceives her, based on her attire:

"If you look with your ears and listen with your eyes it becomes clear that I am a typical queen bee.

My walk is perfectly promiscuous and pristine; been sexually active since I was 15, at least that’s what it seems,

'cause that’s what everyone seems to hear so it must be true."

If you look with your ears and listen with your eyes you’ll hear of a future prostitute.

As I pervade the street men are drawn to 'soot'

Eyes glued to the spot where they want to shoot their shot. I’m quite a hot topic; I’m erotic.

Hips swinging, heads spinning, neck breaking, eyes turning, body beckoning. That’s it, you’re listening.

The spoken word champion, who is also a national volleyball player, performed the piece during the Association of Female Executives TT (AFETT) Women of Influence Awards and Mentorship Celebration at the Government Campus Plaza, Port of Spain, on March 23.

In an interview with Newsday, Noray said she often tells people that she can only write from her own experience. She said the young woman depicted in her poem is one of her closest friends, and the piece tells of her friend's experiences as a victim of sexual abuse.

“She would carry herself in a certain way, or dress a certain way, and a lot of people thought she was engaging in activities that are not appropriate for her age.”

Noray said she has overheard rumours about her friend, in church and school, from people who she feels do not know her intimately enough to make those assumptions.

“The piece was (aimed at) highlighting that you cannot judge based on what you see or what you hear.”

She said although her friend has not yet heard the piece, she believes it would make her very emotional and appreciative to know that someone understands the situation from her perspective.

Noray's performance received a standing ovation from the women at the event, including Sharon Rowley, wife of the Prime Minister, and also Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe.

Noray was inspired to perform spoken pieces after listening to a radio performance piece about a woman's experience with rape. At age 13, she was moved by what she heard.

“It touched me and I said, ‘Wow. Let me try it out.’ I wrote one that very day.”

She entered her first competition last year – the Cascadoo Caribbean New Voices International Festival of Spoken Word 2020 – and placed first. Prior to that, she had only competed once before at her school, St Augustine Girls High School.

“I enjoy public speaking and sharing my views, talking about issues that may not be spoken about a lot. After that competition I definitely wanted to continue in and around this field.”

Noray describes herself as a passionate, hard-working person. She said she is inspired by the life and work of American activist Martin Luther King Jr and Maya Angelou.

“I watch their speeches, (and) I read a lot of Maya’s poems. I research them all the time.”

She was particularly inspired by another young poet, Amanda Gorman, 23, whose performance at the January 20 inauguration ceremony of US President Joe Biden made waves around the world.

“Her words were very motivational. Her image alone (as a young woman of colour) was very impactful for me.”

She said although Gorman’s style was not as dramatic as she herself would typically perform, she still appreciated it. “All poets cannot be the same.”

She has watched her performance several times. “One day, I don’t know if I could ever be in a position like that, but she gave me hope that I could end up there.”

Noray sees herself publishing her collected works someday and wants to pursue becoming a motivational speaker. “I don’t have a particular occupation in mind for the future. I’ve changed my mind so many times,” she joked.

“For now, I just want to be able to do poetry for the rest of my life and share my views with the rest of the world, not just TT. I hope I get the opportunity to go international.”

She said she is very captivated by the arts. The form-five student plays the piano and participates in drama at her school.

“Sometimes I would sit at home and watch dances and instrumentals. It’s nice to immerse myself in what all these people have to offer and it inspires me to pursue a life where I do what I love to do.”

Noray is also a national volleyball player, having twice represented the country as a setter – the person who sets up the attack for other players.

National volleyball player Amaris Noray at the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Championship, hosted in Martinique in December 2019. -

She participated in an under-18 tournament in Jamaica in 2019 in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CASOVA) competition where the team placed fourth. She also competed in the under-21 Chapionnat de la Caraibe Volleyball competition in Martinique in December of 2020. The team placed second.

Noray said she has a very solid support system at home. “My mother is my biggest supporter,” she said, adding her mom would often put her outfits together for performances and ensures that after a long, hard day of classes and volleyball practise, she can come home and relax.

“She puts all of her effort into ensuring I am the best version of myself.”

She said her father is also instrumental in her success. “He makes sure I am well prepared for (classes) and well prepared to take on life.” She said before every performance, her father would tell her, “You are beautiful; you are talented; and you are worthy.”

Amaris Noray at the Cascade Caribbean New Voices International (CNVI) Festival of Spoken Word 2020 where she placed first - Amaris Noray

She said he has been saying that to her since she was born and the mantra has significantly contributed to her self-confidence.

Her younger sister Kayley, 12, is her best friend, pride, and joy. “I can tell she really looks up to me and I try to be the best example I can be for her. That is my goal: to succeed not only for myself but for her as well.”

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