Americans are being pacified by information fed to them by the mass media, said Rod-zilla, the Blackademic, a spoken-word poet who performed Thursday at Love Jones Cafe Night, an event hosted by the Multi-Cultural Center.

Sacramento-native Rod-zilla, born Rodrick Freeman, was among various poets, musicians and singers who performed in the Redwood Room of the University Union in an event that the Multi-Cultural Center hopes will help bring racial stereotypes to the attention of the student body.

“It’s really important to enlighten people, especially in the African-American community,” said Stephanie Jones, a senior who works for the Multi-Cultural Center and the event’s main organizer.

The message of Freeman’s poetry was that of a revolution, but he is still concerned for the greater good of the nation.

“My message can come off as that of a black nationalist, but I’m definitely for the good of the whole,” Freeman said.

Another poet who performed was Prentice, a member of the 2006 Oakland Slam Team, which plans to perform in South Africa soon.

“If you’re offended, I don’t apologize,” Prentice said during his performance. “I just ask that you think about why you’re offended.”

Students at the event had the opportunity to participate in an open-microphone poetry session, and appreciated the atmosphere and presentation of the event as well as its overall purpose.

“I think this is something that we can use to reach Destination 2010,” said junior Mishae Parker, a psychology major.

“I thought it was very intimate,” said junior Courtney Smith, a sociology major.

Cody Kitaura can be reached at [email protected]