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By Tasha Lester

The woman who speaks about reverence for black women so poetically, composes choreopoems of women issues so realistically and quotes ciphers from renowned African American women so dramatically is none other than Veronica Precious Bohanan.

Veronica recently released her full-length book titled Om: My Systagyrl Lotus. In this book, she journeys between street talk, race and gender relations, spirituality and much more. She uses technical prose and poetry and its theme relates to black women between the ages of eighteen and forty.

More than just an author, Veronica is a part of Aqua Moon, a duo team whose artistic measures provide a voice for women and youth. Aqua Moon’s name derives from Aqua Beats and Moon Verses. Aqua Moon modifies scripts to a two-woman show and addresses women issues such as rape, molestation, incest and women in hip-hop.

Veronica suggests women should not feel they have to be silent about past afflictions and would like for them to understand they too have a voice. Even though it may not be easy to open that door of past hurt, we all know that if you do not talk you will never be heard.

Aqua Moon writes choreopoems (poems intended to be acted on stage) and combines the aesthetics of Ntosake Shange who is the only poet to have her poetry translated successfully to Broadway.

Aqua Moon’s theatrical interpretations educate African American women and youth about pop-culture, obesity and other issues in our society. For an example, we see obese women everyday and the majority of us think they are in that situation because they chose to eat the wrong foods but it is not necessarily the case for everyone.

Some women battle obesity because of health problems. Aqua Moon’s choreopoems shed light on many of the stereotypical concepts in our society.

Because some women feel as if they are not allowed to be emotional or act out their issues in real life, Veronica continues to do what she does best and that is promoting sisterhood. It is imperative to her that women of color feel they have a voice. Check her out online www.unsilencedwomanpress.com.