“My God was right on time. When letters to God landed in my lap heavenly sounding like a feather silence prayers answered” – Trapped
Keishonna West had just finished performing her poem “Trapped” at the Bakery Lounge in Burbank. A woman from the crowd approached her. She said the poem moved her so much that she wanted to reach out to her own mother, with whom she hadn’t spoken in over 20 years.
Keishonna West, who goes by Keke, was born and raised in Gardena, in South Los Angeles. Once it was time for her to go to high school her family moved to Bakersfield, where she attended Ridgeview High School. When she graduated in 2005, Keke went to California State University, Northridge where she started to write poetry. In 2009, she ended up majoring in communications/public relations, and from then on her classes helped her find her love of poetry.
“At the time, unfortunately, we all had to experience the passing of Trayvon Martin and I think that sparked the intensity, and the passion behind writing,” says Keke. The classes and college experiences were also what was pushing her pen.
Keke writes heartfelt pieces inspired by both good and bad situations. When Keke writes a poem from personal experience, she hopes it inspires others.
Once she graduated from Northridge in 2011, she felt that there was nothing for her in California so she moved to Chicago in 2012. Keke found inspiration there that helped her to write a poem called “Trapped.” As she was on the bus headed back to the southside from downtown, she noticed from across the bus a teenage girl looking sad. When they got deeper and deeper into the south part of town Keke ended up sitting next to her and they struck up a conversation. Keke wondered if the teenager was going to cause self-harm. The next day Keke was on the bus route and saw the teenager in better spirits. The very next year in 2013, Keke came back to Bakersfield due to friend and family situations.
“I prayed to God” and said, “Thank you for giving her the strength she needed to live through it,” says Keke.
“She’s neglected, infected yet headed for the respected, but rejected by her own mother. Apron, name tag, she’s out the door left behind wondering if mommy’s pills are injected will it heal the pain no more.” – Trapped
In the midst of her journey in 2015, Keke met someone who changed her. They were dating for a couple of months and she felt like it was time to let him into her place of passion, which was poetry. Keke was hosting an open mic night and asked him to help by being a security guard. Keke introduced a woman who wanted to read her poem. As this woman was reading the poem, Keke realized she was talking about the man she was dating. He had been in another relationship for two years and she had no idea until that night.
“Was I embarrassed? Absolutely. Was I let down? Absolutely. But because it happened in the solitude of poetry I retired from poetry,” says Keke.
Soon after the breakup, she discovered she was going to be a first-time mom by the man who betrayed her love. She had the biggest writer’s block and decided to pick up some new hobbies to pass the time. Although this was a new experience she handled it pretty well.
“Keke’s heart grew stronger and bigger. Everything she does is for her daughter,” says her longtime friend Eva Villanueva.
They have been friends since high school and have watched each other grow into the women that they have become. Villanueva said Keke has always been able to connect with others and be a leader.
Another one of her friends that she met in college, Jodi Murry, was overwhelmed with joy every time she heard her poetry.
“Becoming a parent made her more self-aware and patient with herself and others. I saw her grow as a woman and a parent,” says Murry.
Autumn Layton
As of winter 2021, Keke was able to get back in the groove of writing again. She has performed at and hosted Breast Cancer Awareness events, Black History Month, Mental Health Awareness month, and Juneteenth. She has not stopped using the gift that God gave her and is bringing something new to Bakersfield. Out of all of the 28,305 African American people in Bakersfield, according to the United States Census Bureau in 2020, she’s just one who hopes to inspire others to chase their passions.
“So next time someone asks, what are you thankful for? Say your heartbeat it reached billboard records the day you were born it will forever be my favorite song!!” – Trapped
The B Side 