This piece was a phenominal gateway into the diverse thought process of young people and their attractions to each other. Not only that but the true attraction they have for themselves. It calls to the forefront just how common it is for the exterior to be depicted in such a way to one person that can offend and even undermine another's perception of themselves. Young people have begun to own their individuality and their roots. We've begun to see things for what they really are and make the choice to either identify and remove ourselves from certain definitions.Adriel's piece is sweet and simple yet his poem addresses so much.

While listening to this poem I feel as if I were sitting on the roof of some apartment building one hot and sticky New York night, while drinking iced coffee. This spoken word poem gives new grace and meaning to the art of picking up girls. The entire poem is based upon the metaphor of cosmetic makeup compared to ethnic makeup and background. The final metaphor “this is not make-up but make-believe” sent chills up and down my spine. The poem is skillfully written, and performed with a wonderful rhythm. The reader tells the story so well, that I feel as if they had put their heart and soul into the reading. The only problem is that the speaker has a tinny sound when he speaks. I think this wonderful poem would have been done more justice if he would have recorded the poem again, and checked the mike to get rid of the tinny sound.

Program Directors looking to bring fresh voices to the air during Poetry Month or the upcoming Public Radio Collaboration on Globalization will delight in the rhymes flowing from Adriel Luis, a finalist at the Youth Speaks Grand Slam Poetry Finals in San Francisco.

Fine.
I'll tell you about my ethnic makeup
I wear the foundation
layed by my indigenous poeple...

Luis' lyrical talent is impressive, his delivery self-assured, his narrative something we all want and need to hear on the air.