Tori Thompson: A wife, poet and disciple of life

De’Arbreya Lee
Staff Writer

It’s not easy being a student and trying to fulfill your life’s goals, but it’s certainly not unattainable. Just ask Jackson State University student Tori Thompson, a music education major, history minor as she counts down the days leading up to the release of her book of poems, “Scarlette’s Letters” on April 22, 2011.

The Toledo, Ohio native, who goes by the stage name Scarlette, has a lot on her resume. She was the host of last sememster’s poetry slam series and was also featured in the J.Lee produced documentary, “Black Love.”  Thompson has accomplished a lot and many of these accomplishments to place on Jackson State’s campus.

She recalls her first business venture in the fifth grade of selling lips gloss in plastic heart shaped containers made from Vaseline and her mother eye shadow, selling 30 for one dollar each. Thompson’s creativity has grown into something greater.

As founder of OutSpoken, a spoken word organization at JSU, Thompson has been writing since the fifth grade and performing since the 10th grade.  She came to Jackson State in search of an organization that would allow her to flourish in her craft, but found something else.

“When I got to JSU, I looked for a student poetry slam team, and didn’t find one,” said Thompson.

Thompson set out on a quest, with the help of fellow music majors Diandgy Georges and Jamaal Bolden, to create the organization that she and many other poetry loving students needed.

“After getting a petition signed by 30 students and writing a constitution,  I convinced English professor and poet C. Liegh McInnis and Seven*Studioz [now Cultural Expressions] owner/musician Ezra Brown to sponsor our project,” said Thompson.

Now, some years after the club’s creation and the addition of new members, OutSpoken has come a long way. With the  recent opening performance for visiting poet, professor and author, Nikki Giovanni, Thompson has a lot to celebrate.

“My baby is all grown up! What started as a small poetry club has expanded into an artist’s collective of poets, orators, graphic designers and musicians,” said Thompson.

She added, “OutSpoken is one of, if not the most, diverse groups on campus by hometown, major, ethnicity, orientation and talent.  Eight of the Divine 9 is represented in OutSpoken,” said Thompson.

Thompson said that she is proud of the work of the executive board and members of the organization and gives a special thanks to JSU student Brittany Patton, the first Vice President of OutSpoken.

“OutSpoken would not have survived without her tireless efforts that first year. She and I have grown and changed so much since we first met, in life and in art, she motivates me to be a better wordsmith,” said Thompson.

Thompson will soon be embarking on another journey,  graduation.

“My life is a game of Super Mario right now. Bowser is graduation, and I’m trying to collect all the coins I can to 1-up before a Koopa throws another hammer at me,” said Thompson.

This summer, Thompson will receive training at the Dunham Institute in Chiapas, Mexico to get TEFL [Teaching English and Foreign Language] certification, just another example for her love of teaching.

“[It’s] my nosiness and the concept of learning across the curriculum. Writing poems helps me write songs; dancing helps me play my instrument better; performing spoken-word makes me a more effective teacher in the classroom by giving me ease in front of a crowd,” said Thompson.

If you would like to pick up a copy of Thompson’s book, “Scarlette’s Letters”, they will be on sale for $10 on April 22, 2011 at 8 p.m. at Cultural Expressions on 147 Milsaps Ave.