Roya Marsh on Identity, Poetry & Empowerment | Performances

CUNY TV's One to One

In this One to One interview, poet and educator Roya Marsh reflects on her experiences as a black, queer woman from the Bronx. She discusses the complexities of her identity, growing up without queer representation but finding support through her brothers, community, and the arts. Marsh shares how her poetry serves as a "love letter" to her queerness and addresses the struggles of being both black and queer in a world that often marginalizes these identities.
Marsh also talks about her unexpected introduction to poetry slams, which introduced her to performance poetry and expanded her writing from personal experiences to broader societal issues.
Marsh highlights her work with young writers, emphasizing how their poetry provides a safe space for self-expression and healing. She advocates for community action in the current political climate, especially for marginalized queer individuals. The interview ends with a discussion of her book Savings Time, praised for its powerful impact.
As a bonus, in this episode of One to One, Marsh performs two powerful poems from her book Savings Time: “This One” and “QTNA.”