Tayllor Johnson: rhythm and soul

Every word Tayllor Johnson utters is poetry. One of her passions, poetry enriches her life so that she speaks in verses, walks in dances. Her life is dictated by her passions to the point that being Tayllor Johnson is an art.In addition to dedicating herself to the rigorous coursework of a Samo senior, Johnson is a member of the Get Lit Players, a literacy group that works with talented slam poets to reinvigorate poetry. Her job in the group is to memorize classics, like the works of Pablo Neruda and Walt Whitman, and then write her own response, often in the style of slam poetry.Johnson’s introduction to the world of slam poetry was somewhat inspired by the Brave New Voices poetry slam two years ago, which she watched on television with her mother, who has been a primary supporter in all of Johnson’s pursuits.“At the end of her sophomore year, Tayllor and I were watching the 2008 HBO Brave New Voices poetry slam,” Johnson’s mother Lisa Johnson said. “We were so moved by the performances. Tayllor commented how she would like to participate in a show like that and the next summer she did.”When the international Brave New Voices poetry competition was hosted in Los Angeles last year, Johnson became a full-fledged member at the Get Lit Program. Johnson performed in the second bout and semifinals, helping the L.A. team win second place after contending with 53 other teams from India, Guam, England and all over the United States. The competition will be aired on HBO on Oct. 23.“I was on this railroad, I was on this journey that practically started out of nowhere. It was out of nowhere, it was a dream come true for me. On July 19 I’m with one thousand people from New York, Philadelphia, D.C. and Miami. I’m just with all these inspiring people and I have my own nametag. It was so real, it was surreal actually. I had my own nametag, I had my own shirt and I then I started,” Johnson said, her eyes lighting up as she recalled the experience.Johnson has performed at several Samo events, including the poetry slam last year and Java Drama. Although her lineup of poetry is always in flux, the rave reviews from her fellow performers are consistent.“Her poetry is rhythmic, but not in a forced style. It seems as if her poetry flows out of her soul already rhyming and rhythmically adjusted — it’s smooth,” fellow Java Drama performer Jason Pitts said.Johnson uses her extraordinary skill with words to empower and educate others; she has been a key speaker at Project Safe Zone for the past two years. Although much of what she discusses remains concealed within the seminar’s walls, her words have inspired many and Johnson herself has benefited from the experience.“I was part of a community that was different than other communities, it made me a lot more open-minded towards everybody and everything. The social norms, the way they are set, nobody can really be themselves. If you do one thing that’s out of social norm, you’re gay or not black enough or not white enough or not normal,” Johnson said.Johnson uses poetry to convey emotions she can write out, but uses dance to free herself from her emotions. She is currently the president of the Got Buck Club at Samo, and strives to share krump with others.“I was always dancing. I watched my brothers watch Michael Jackson videos and strive to perfect both their moves. In 2005, I started to krump with the general population who saw the “Rize” documentary. That’s when I found passion in its truest form. I can be as powerful and free as I want, releasing anything I please,” Johnson said.With Johnson’s cornucopia of activities — poetry, music and krump — one would assume a career in the arts would be the next step. But, as always, Johnson is full of surprises.“I want to major in psychology, maybe be a therapist to either the mentally ill or to anybody because people are always telling me their lives. People are always telling me their stories, and I love stories. I always want to hear new stories,” Johnson said.Maybe a career as a therapist, helping others and hearing stories, isn’t so out of character for Johnson after all. Project Safe Zone ensures that Johnson is busy helping others, and by performing both original poetry and classic poems, stories are a big part of her life.  And, one can be assured, no matter where her future leads, Johnson will never leave the arts behind.“I wouldn’t be Tayllor L. Johnson without my poetry, without my dance, without my open-mindedness,” Johnson said. “I would be a dead person if I didn’t follow my passion. Whatever I do in my life, whatever air I breath, whatever I am I will always follow my passion. My name is poetry, my name is dance, and my name is passion. It’s what I do; I have to do my passion.”Aliza AbarbanelStaff Writer