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A review by kareimer
And We Rise by Erica Martin
5.0
Wow wow wow this book was tremendous. The poetry was moving, dynamic, and powerful. Erica Martin provided an accessible and engaging look through many impactful Black leaders and thinkers. It felt like a whirlwind of a tour through some major thinkers and their impact. However, many of her poems highlighted the power of 'regular' Black folks in advancing the movement of racial equality in the past and today. She celebrated the radical strength (historical and contemporary) of living as a Black person in structures of systemic racism.
There was such a toughness and reliance through each poem and from poem to poem. However, there was also such love pouring through the book. There was considerable Joy for the people in the book and Black culture broadly.
The other thing Martin did so phenomenally was make each poem feel powerful in itself. However, they all flowed together. There was a common pulse that left this book feeling important.
This short poem was striking in it's length and impact. It calls out the way whiteness is seen as the default and all people of colour a variation form that norm. It calls into question what it mean that we have set up a society that views one people as the norm.
"For coloured
their (other) signs read
funny thing is
white is still a colour"
This poem was my favourite from the whole book. It shows the continuation and legacy of racism in America. It is fast moving and engaging, filled with purpose and anger. Gorgeous.
"And justice for all
ha!
What a lie
read the fine print
terms and conditions may apply
the 13th amendment
was supposed to set us free
grant us equal rights
and give us liberty
criminals
that’s what we are
for daring to exist
throw us all in jail
each time we try to resist
the shackles have been removed
yes, this is true
but, darling, we’re still prisoners
of the red, white, and blue"
This last one I selected is heartbreaking. It shows how chattel slavery was not inevitable but created by white settlers. It shows the trauma endured from slavery did not need to happen but was imposed.
"If I could go back I would capture the captors and tell my people quickly if I could go back I would burn down the ships so they never ever crossed the sea"
Thank you Erica Martin for this beautiful book of poetry. I am overwhelmed thinking of the effort that must have gone into this book (from researching historical movements, bringing in personal sentiments and experiencing and weaving together many diverse poems into a cohesive book).
There was such a toughness and reliance through each poem and from poem to poem. However, there was also such love pouring through the book. There was considerable Joy for the people in the book and Black culture broadly.
The other thing Martin did so phenomenally was make each poem feel powerful in itself. However, they all flowed together. There was a common pulse that left this book feeling important.
This short poem was striking in it's length and impact. It calls out the way whiteness is seen as the default and all people of colour a variation form that norm. It calls into question what it mean that we have set up a society that views one people as the norm.
"For coloured
their (other) signs read
funny thing is
white is still a colour"
This poem was my favourite from the whole book. It shows the continuation and legacy of racism in America. It is fast moving and engaging, filled with purpose and anger. Gorgeous.
"And justice for all
ha!
What a lie
read the fine print
terms and conditions may apply
the 13th amendment
was supposed to set us free
grant us equal rights
and give us liberty
criminals
that’s what we are
for daring to exist
throw us all in jail
each time we try to resist
the shackles have been removed
yes, this is true
but, darling, we’re still prisoners
of the red, white, and blue"
This last one I selected is heartbreaking. It shows how chattel slavery was not inevitable but created by white settlers. It shows the trauma endured from slavery did not need to happen but was imposed.
"If I could go back I would capture the captors and tell my people quickly if I could go back I would burn down the ships so they never ever crossed the sea"
Thank you Erica Martin for this beautiful book of poetry. I am overwhelmed thinking of the effort that must have gone into this book (from researching historical movements, bringing in personal sentiments and experiencing and weaving together many diverse poems into a cohesive book).