Q&A with Camila Ruiz, SCORES All Star Alumnus

Camila is an alumnus of America SCORES Chicago and former National Slam poet. Now a junior at Little Village High School, she is captain of her school’s Slam team and hosts Wattz Up, a weekly Yolocalli radio show on 105.5FM. Camila helps mentor America SCORES Chicago poet-athletes, preparing them for upcoming poetry slams!

This interview with Camila was originally featured as “Speaking up with Camila Ruiz” in the 2020 edition of Kicker! Magazine.

When did you start writing poetry?

The very first poem that I ever wrote was as a third grader for a class assignment - if I’m being honest, it was pretty cheesy but I liked the way I felt when I was writing it.

It wasn’t until my first year in SCORES as a 4th grader that I really started writing regularly and got more into the performance aspect. My voice was squeaky and I kind of had a lisp but I really enjoyed funny poems and making people laugh made me feel good. It wasn’t until I was in middle school and started really reflecting on my story that my relationship with poetry changed. I remember going to the Louder than a Bomb (LTAB) semi-finals, the Slam poetry tournament for high school students in Chicago and I was totally blown away by the poems and performances. All I could think was that I wanted to write like that and I imagined what it would be like to perform on that stage. I immediately set a goal for myself to make it there and 3 years later, I made it to the semi-finals. This year, I’m captain of my school’s LTAB team my goal is to make it to the finals.

What advice do you have for other poet-athletes?

Explore poetry from top to bottom and dig in. “Writer’s block” is really just you stopping yourself from further exploration of an idea or an issue. Make more room for yourself to explore and learn from other poets. Read everything and don’t limit yourself to one specific genre or content style. If you see something that you want to write about, don’t hesitate to go for it. Inspiration and ideas are everywhere - look up and pay attention to what’s happening around you. Personally, I love listening to 90s hip-hop & rap (especially Naz) to get into a flow.

Why is it important to spread knowledge of poetry to young people?

Poetry is a platform and our voices are important. As a young person, you’ll often find yourself thrown into a system that does not provide you with equal access or representation, but our voices have the power to move, dismantle and remake those systems. The future is us so don’t quiet your revolution to make other people feel more comfortable - discomfort is part of the art.

What is your favorite memory from your time as a poet-athlete?

My first Red Carpet Poetry Slam in Chicago. It was the first time I felt my full power as a poet and I fell in love with the stage. I couldn’t believe that I had a room full of adults listening, laughing and hanging on my every word. It felt amazing and my parents were so proud.

What if your favorite kind of poetry?

The poetry that stops whatever is happening in your head and makes you go “WHOA, they didn’t have to do it, but they did” and it’s contagious, it sticks in your brain and you can’t get it out - it’s part of you now.

Little Mexican Girl from the Southside of Chi

My slang comes from the
Que Paso
And the
No Manches

From the Ayooooooooooo
And the what’s poppin?

Where friends
Become carnales
Who have
The first of Gloria

I came from the
Sana sana
Colita de rana

The pray before
the baby comes
pray before
the baby comes
pray before
You enter the school

I’m the fresh fruit
on your table
The callused hands

The back bent
Aztec migrant

The wet back
Who needs to
Get sent back

The revoked
Dreamless dreamer

I’m the sun sacrificed believer

I’m the
little Mexican girl
from the Southside
of Chi

My roots may have been
Planted in the fine land
Of Morolean Guanajuato

Where loud cars are replaced
With roaring motorcycles
A symphony of culture

Where sweaty faces switch
to sweating coca cola’s and coronas
Para terminar el dia
Trabajando en el rancho

Where streets are used
as soccer fields
And places para hablar y
Convivere

Where La Madrina
Lets me steal some
Dulces de tamarindo
Desde su tiendita

But my attitude in Chicago
Is a cold fresh sip
Of Chicana

Where slick sidewalks
are replaced with icy raspados

Where my Spanish is replaced
With broken Spanglish
La vivora de mi boca

Where pantalones rompidos
is a trend and not an accident

Where happiness is
Right down 26th street
This little Mexico del sur de Chicago

Valentina hot sauce
Flows through my veins
Making my heart beat
to the rhythm of zapateado