Filling In The Black: One Woman’s Journey of Re-education
Category: | |
---|---|
Author: | Joan Kantor |
Publisher: | Joan Kantor |
Publication Date: | August 21, 2021 |
Number of Pages: | 47 |
ISBN-10: | 97880578252803 |
Filling in The Black:
One Woman’s Journey of Re-education by Joan Kantor is a collection of
thought-provoking, oftentimes poignant poems that capture the painful
experience of the color line and what it implies for humanity. Kantor's voice
joins those of icons like Langston Hughes to denounce the inhumanity and the inequality
of equal men, solidly opposing racism in all its forms. These outstanding, lyrical, and
intelligently crafted poems brilliantly portray the empathic voice of a white woman who
stands against racism. She doesn't hesitate to remind readers: ''I’m white. / Please don’t hold that
against me. /I’m not trying to pretend to be black or brown.'' And
in these lines, she explores what is most essential about life — humanity. The
poet captures the grim experience of black people who still experience racism
with forensic clarity. Below is one of the poems that expose a reality that is
recurrent in contemporary America and many places across the globe:
“GET OUT”
'The boy doesn’t
even have a chance
to open his mouth
before the cop
yanks him by the arm
and shoves him
against the car
'where this kid
from the burbs
trembling
wonders why
'he hadn’t believed his parents
when they told him
he only seemed
to be living the dream.'
This poet who cries ''white tears for a black man / and
those unjustly killed before him'' delivers a message of hope in her
poetry, succinctly capturing unique experiences of racism while allowing the
light of her humanity to shine through each line. This is a rich collection
with poems that should open frank conversations on the difficult, yet timely
subject of racism. Filling in The
Black: One Woman’s Journey of Re-education is a delightful collection,
but not the kind of poetry to be read on the surface. It is replete with
symbolism. It is engaging, thoughtful, and filled with deep currents of the
poet's humanity. In this collection, Kantor engages readers in dialogue with
history, challenging them to shift perspective, and seeking the place where the
shades of our skin disappear, revealing people who get hurt and who are capable
of love. It is a collection of protest poetry that is as illuminating as it is
timely. The strong and resonant themes, the lyrical character of the poems, and
the author’s ability to evoke powerful imagery in the reader’s mind make this
collection a must-read for poetry fans.