“Arich,thoughtfulanthologyexploringcenturiesofBlackpoetry.“--KirkusReviews(starredreview)“ThisdeepandcomplexassemblageofBlackpoetryculminatesinajoyful,painful,andemotionallyrichexperience.“--PublishersWeekly(starredreview)“AneclecticmixofBlackexperiencesfillsthisunmatchedanthologythatfeaturesbothmodernpoets,suchasNikkiGiovanniandIbiZoboi,and’thebrilliantBlackpoetswhoarenowancestors’...Afreshcanonforpoetrystudies.“--ALABooklist(starredreview)Starringthirty-sevenpoets,withcontributionsfromacclaimedauthors,includingKwameAlexander,IbiZoboi,andNikkiGiovanni,thisbreathtakingBlackYApoetryanthologyeditedbyNationalBookAwardfinalistAmberMcBride,TaylorByas,andEricaMartincelebratesBlackpoetry,folklore,andculture.Come,claimyourwings.Liftyourlifeabovetheearth,returntothelandofyourfather’sbirth.WhatexactlyisittobeBlackinAmerica?Well,forsome,it’slearninghowtomorphthehatredplacedbyothersintoloveforoneself;forothers,it’sunearthingthestrengthittakestocontinuetoholdone’sswaggerwhenmultitudinousfactorsworktomakeBlacklivescrumble.Forsome,it’sgatheringaroundthekitchentableasGrandmatellsthestoryofAnansithespider,whileforothersit’sgrinningfromeartoearwhileeatingauntie’sspectacular7Upcake.Blackexperiencesandtraditionsarecomplex,striking,andvast--theystretchlongerthantheNileandarefourtimesasdeep--andcarrymorethanjustunimaginablepain--thereisalsojoy.Featuringanall-stargroupofthirty-sevenpowerfulpoeticvoices,includingsuchluminariesasKwameAlexander,JamesBaldwin,IbiZoboi,AudreLorde,NikkiGiovanni,andGwendolynBrooks,thisrivetinganthologydepictsthediversityoftheBlackexperiencebyfosteringaconversationaboutrace,faith,heritage,andresiliencebetweenfreshpoetsandtheliteraryancestorsthatcamebeforethem.EditedbyTaylorByas,EricaMartin,andCorettaScottKingNewTalentAwardwinnerAmberMcBride,PoemhoodwillsimultaneouslyhighlightthedualityandnuanceatthecruxofsomanyBlackexperienceswithpoetrybeingthepsalmconstantlyplaying.AJuniorLibraryGuildGoldStandardSelectionpick!
