More than 400 people poured into a dimly lit Memorial Union ballroom Friday night for the African-American Men of ASU’s fifth annual Welcome Black Poetry Explosion.

Group leaders at AAMASU worked all summer to get internationally known poet and novelist Taalam Acey to host the University Student Government-funded event along with group member and film junior Justin Smith.

“Spoken word is very important to us,” Smith said after the Black National Anthem was recited to kick off the night. “It allows us to tell the most precious stories that belong in our hearts to people who sometimes aren’t ready to hear them.”

Poem topics throughout the night ranged from love to inspirational cultural compositions.

Finance senior David Evans, president of the organization, said the poetry explosion is an event that the organization does to help keep members of the club involved on campus.

“This particular event is more of an artistic outlet,” Evans said. “It’s a spoken word, so it’s a deeper cultural thing.”

In the event’s five-year history, Friday’s group was the largest turnout AAMASU has had.

Evans said the event is a way to bring nationally known poets together with local and student poets.

Religious studies senior Reuben Caro received the first standing ovation of the night after reading his poem “The Truth.”

The piece stressed the importance of telling the truth and how it can help clear the conscience.

“Some of my friends from church and some personal people I know were going through some things,” Caro said. “They had done all that they could and they were still acting guilty a little bit about the situation and my mind said, ‘Well, if they had told the truth and they said their piece and did what was right, then there is no reason to act guilty.’”

AAMASU took time to honor members of the organization who kept a 3.0 GPA last school year.

Engineering sophomore Kenneth O’Bannon received an honorary black AAMASU jacket for his academic accomplishment.

Evans said community involvement is an important part of the organization, and he hopes to continue to inspire positivity in younger African-American males throughout the Valley.

“Last year we were student organization of the year, so we’re shooting for that again,” Evans said. “But beyond that goal, we’re looking to do a lot more in the community this year. We’re really trying to increase the AAMASU brand throughout the Valley. We want to become an important part of the Phoenix scene.”

Reach the reporter at devin.creer@asu.edu.