TED Talks Daily How poetry unlocked my superpowers | Keenan Scott II
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May 4, 2023 
Keenan Scott II is a celebrated playwright, producer, director, and actor known for his moving spoken word pieces. In this engaging discussion, he shares how poetry became his superpower, ignited by an inspiring eighth-grade teacher. Scott reflects on identity, culture, and the transformative role of language in overcoming obstacles. He powerfully illustrates how storytelling honors memories and fosters resilience, particularly for marginalized communities, while revealing the superhero within each of us.
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Childhood Superhero Dreams
- Keenan Scott II dreamt of being a superhero as a child, inspired by comic books.
- He and his godbrother created their own Black Spider-Man characters before Miles Morales.
Discovering a Superpower
- Keenan's 8th-grade English teacher accused him of plagiarism due to his impressive poem.
- This incident revealed Keenan's talent for writing, which had been masked by dyslexia.
Hip-Hop as a Literary Teacher
- Keenan realized hip-hop had unknowingly taught him literary devices like alliteration.
- He cites Tupac's lyrics as an example of this influence on his writing style.