Valerie Chepp

The twenty-first century has seen countless protests demanding social justice, and in every instance, young people are leading the charge. But in addition to protesters who take to the streets with handmade placards, there are also young adults who engage in less obvious change-making tactics. In Speaking Truths, sociologist Valerie Chepp goes behind the scenes to uncover how spoken word poetry—and young people’s participation in it—contributes to a broader understanding of contemporary social justice activism, including this generation’s attention to the political importance of identity, well-being, and love.