Race

"Inscrutable": creative nonfiction in Redivider

I am honored that “Inscrutable,” a story I wrote for/about my AAPI students in response to the Atlanta Spa Shootings, was published by Redivider as their inagural Cultural Critique piece.
.

Redivider 20.1 | Cover art — Tea Queen by Aaron Norfolk

He knows the myth, but he is the model minority. The all-around A-student: attentive, astute, Asian. He’s good at math and science, but also garners excellent grades and respect in my sophomore honors English class. He’s soft spoken, but thoughtful. So as the others call out, he raises his hand and waits patiently. When I acknowledge that he will be next, he lowers it back to his desk, places the other over a delicate wrist. When he does speak, on an average Wednesday, I will swear in front of a class for the first time in twenty years of teaching.

"when asked what I learned during the ‘community forum’ on the appropriateness of my poem" in Bending Genres.

My poem "when asked what I learned during the ‘community forum’ on the appropriateness of my poem" has been published in Issue 30 of Bending Genres.

It’s not a typical poem. It’s a bingo board: I was trying something new.

Note: You may wish to read “when asked how to avoid being seen as racist” for context.

Featured
bailey-mahon-AlfgSap679Y-unsplash-1024x683.jpg
“when asked how to avoid being seen as racist” at Identity Theory

Two school poems in Pangyrus Literary Magazine

Two new school poems—

“what i learned during Black History Month” by billy, age 8 (or 18)"

and

"an open letter to the student who will be convicted of rape in the next 3-5 years”—

are now live up at Pangyrus Literary Magazine. Give them a read.

This publication also provides short blurbs from me on the origins of both poems.

“when asked how to avoid being seen as racist” at Identity Theory

I am happy to have my strange little sonnet “when asked how to avoid being seen as racist” published in Identity Theory .

I think sex with animals is problematic. I think racism is problematic. These two facts are at the root of this poem (which is based on a joke I was once told).

And if you thought this poem involves any drunk children having sex with goats, you should sue your elementary school, you’ll need the money to make up for your poor reading comprehension skills.

“der wilde jagd” in Nombono: Speculative Poetry by BIPOC Poets

I wrote a poem about a rapture. Not The Rapture. A rapture. An imagined eschatological event where a certain class of people would be caught up, taken away from here. And there would be much rejoicing. I wrote this poem specifically for a publication and was fortunate enough to see it accepted.

“der wilde jagd” is featured in Sundress Publication’s Nombono: Speculative Poetry by BIPOC Poets edited by Aka Lezli Hope.

Two Poems Reprinted in Teaching Black Anthology

I am honored to have two of my poems reprinted in the upcoming University of Pittsburgh Press anthology Teaching Black: Pedagogy, Practice, and Perspectives on Writing edited by Ana Lara and Drea Brown.


Both of these poems— “an open letter to the school resource officer who almost shot me in my class” & “the surprising thing” — appear in my first collection, Teaching While Black.

Two Junenteeth Appropriate Poems in Awake (Lucky Jefferson)

On the first federally recognized Juneteenth, I’m honored to have two of my poems appearing in Our Power, Issue 3 of Awake by Lucky Jefferson.

unsplash-image-b9wsEM40Cv0.jpg

  • “an open letter to the stupid [redacted] about to get [redacted] if they mention ‘affirmative action’ one more [redacted] time”

    and

  • “revisionist history”

,

Teaching Anti-Racist Poetry Workshop at Mass Poetry Festival 2021

,

Today I lead a workshop on Teaching Anti-Racist Poetry as part of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival!

I think it went when and I didn’t bring (much) shame to the family.

masspoetryfest-1000x563.jpeg

If you’re looking for a similar workshop with your students, your department, your school, your writing group (etc.) hit me up.

Here is the description of what we did today:

In this workshop, participants will explore anti-racist pedagogy through poetry. After defining terms, the time will be spent reading poetry from a variety of sources (mostly living BIPOC authors) and participating in analysis and discussion activities geared towards high school language arts classrooms. This workshop targets high school language arts teachers looking for ways to engage their classroom communities with honesty, vulnerability, and bravery. Participants will leave with a governing philosophy (“if not my class, then where?”), a classroom-ready packet of poems, and instructional ideas.

If you were in the workshop or the live stream and need access to the resources/materials that I provided, hit me up.

an open letter to the public school employee worried that "antiracist" is too controversial a term published at Rejection Letters

image.jpg

I can be really petty a times. Which make me appreciate this poem on multiple levels.

Yes. I said it.

I love one of my own poems.

Thanks to Rejection Letters for taking a chance on me once again, and putting "an open letter to the public school employee worried that 'antiracist' is too controversial a term" out into the world. I hope the world gets it.

As always, I hope the appropriate people are offended.

"an open letter to a classmate on a conversation we never had" published in Twyckenham Notes

My poem "an open letter to a classmate on a conversation we never had" was just published in Twyckenham Notes’ Voice’s of Color issue.

This is one of my school poems, except this time, I’m a much (much) older student.

And if you realize the poem is about you…oh well.