Last Friday, budding poetry and spoken word organization for women, POET.SHE and Carousel Cinema on Battleground Ave. collaborated and hosted a reception and movie screening for the premier of the Tyler Perry adaption of “For Colored Girls who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf”.

POET.SHE is a group of female artists and poets who strive to increase the female presence in the spoken word community.

“The spoken word population is male dominant and Kelly Rae and Paula Latham created this group to get more women out in the spoken word community,” said junior english major, from Raleigh, NC, Martamique Ngozi.

Being a member of POET.SHE, Ngozi is very excited about the event.

Carousel Cinema wanted to be the first cinema to host a film celebration gala of this size.

POET.SHE invited distinguished African American women in the community and lovers of the arts and film to help them honor this powerful film.

“I was definitely pleased with the outcome of the gala mainly because of the broad range of women that decided to come out. So many women from all different areas, age groups, and walks of life came to support,” said creator of POET.SHE, Kelly Rae.

The gala included food, drinks, and vendors consisted of black business owners and a meet and greet with the ladies of POET.SHE and fellow friends who came to see the film.

Before the film started, Kelly Rae, Paula Latham and other female poets of POET.SHE performed some spoken word that included comedic but though intriguing and inspirational words.

After the movie was over, many guests where amazed by the film that Tyler Perry had put together and that he made the film believable.

“The film was something that each woman can relate to in some way and if not, it was a wake up call to others,” said Miss Junior, business education major from Winston Salem, NC, Nicole Reynolds.

Tyler Perry’s adaption of the Ntozanke Shange’s book moved the audience due to the social issues in the film.

“He moved women not only because of the powerful subject matter and the detailed stories and characters he created, but also because of the reality…that is why this movie and play are so important to the black female community and our empowerment as women,” said Rae.

• Jonathan Veal