Poets Against Racism USA Becomes Poets Against Racism & Hate USA
By Debbie Allen, Cofounder, Poets Against Racism & Hate USA; Manjit Sahota, Cofounder, Poets Against Racism; and Patricia Thrushart, Cofounder, Poets Against Racism & Hate USA
Debbie Allen: The Story of Our Name Change
As we undertake our second year, we do so with a new name: Poets Against Racism & Hate USA. Changing from Poets Against Racism USA to Poets Against Racism & Hate USA was a monumental decision. And one that came about through a process that was both organic and intentional. We are excited to share that story here.
In late 2022, poets with ties to our organization raised questions about the disconnect between the name Poets Against Racism USA and our broader mission of using poetry to confront not just racism but all types of prejudice and hate. This feedback set us in motion. Because our name and mission—and, in fact, our very existence—derive from our affiliation with the Poets Against Racism movement in the United Kingdom, we wanted to be thoughtful and purposeful in navigating a path forward. To that end, we consulted a variety of people to obtain more input. We engaged poets and activists from different demographic groups; individuals involved with literary arts in more general ways; experts in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and, of course, Manjit Sahota, cofounder of Poets Against Racism in the UK.
The investigative conversations we had were enlightening and fulfilling. As we contemplated name and tagline possibilities, those we met with offered a multitude of well-thought-out perspectives—each persuasive! One concept mentioned was the need to ensure that society is exposed to the bold word racism versus the sometimes softened vocabulary of DEI approaches. Another was the importance of using language that accurately telegraphs an intended purpose. We also discussed what terms might be more likely to draw a diverse cadre of poets to our organization and receptive audiences to our readings and publications. And from Manjit, we received important edification on what is and historically has been considered racism in the UK.
With open minds and open hearts, Patricia and I listened. And after the listening, we thought…both separately and together. And after the thinking, we concluded that our optimal path forward was to change our name. Racism is part of hate and hate part of racism, yet neither the word racism nor the word hate alone captures the breadth and depth of social injustices present in the United States. Together, however, they come close.
Manjit Sahota: Thoughts from the UK
I have always believed Poets Against Racism UK is a space for poets to come together, share poetry, and challenge the rise of racism across the globe. Our mission is to use our writing and performance to challenge racism, bigotry, and the persecution of minority groups.
With a long history of racism, born out of its colonial past, Britain has used racism to justify the exploitation of people across the globe. The British Empire is responsible for the migration and immigration of millions of people from India, Africa, the Caribbean, and Ireland—welcomed with open arms to fill shortages in labour. From those origins, racism in Britain has persisted and progressed. The Jewish communities of East London experienced racism in the 1930s. Anti-Irish racism and racism against African-Caribbean and Asian people predominated in the 1950s and ’60s. More recently, Eastern European communities and refugees have been targeted groups.
British racism has been used as a tool to divide and rule minority communities for hundreds of years, be they Jewish, Irish, Black, Asian, or Polish. The reality is that racism impacts on the lives of Black and White communities in Britain, and we have a proud record of fighting back against the far right. The antiracist movement in the UK has a great slogan that sums up our approach: “Black and White unite and fight.”
I see that the situation in the US is different and that our counterpart there is listening and responding to the needs of poets who participate in and attend their events. From discussions with Debbie and Patricia, I understand the need to change the US-based organization’s name to adapt to the country’s situation. I perceive the change as an evolution and a signal of inclusion, which can only be a positive thing.
As Poets Against Racism, we will strive to be more inclusive in all our events, to welcome people from all backgrounds and communities. We will try to create a safe place for poets to share ideas, thoughts, and views without fear of discrimination and persecution.
The key issue is to maintain a good balance between our poetry and politics. We need to keep reminding our activist friends of the power of poetry and our fellow poets of the importance of our political vision.
Solidarity and good luck with the new name!
Patricia Thrushart: A Year to Remember
It is tempting to start this retrospective with a cliché—something about how quickly the year went, what a blur 2022 is now. And certainly there are days I feel that way, but if I slow my mind down, I am struck by how much this community—our poets and supporters—has accomplished since its inception. In these past twelve months, we drafted a mission statement and adopted standards for communication; set up our website and social media accounts; and sponsored, hosted, or participated in six events (which you can read about on our Events page), involving over a dozen poets. We published a new poem on our website every month and as many blog posts. We added over sixty members or subscribers hailing from several states, with new signups coming in steadily. Debbie traveled to Nottingham, UK, to participate in Poets Against Racism Goes Global, cementing an already strong collaboration. Member Sandra Rivers-Gill read at another UK event virtually, and UK poets joined us in May for our In This Together reading marking the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.
Certainly the past year provided ample evidence of the need for our mission: confronting racism, bigotry, and hate through the power of poetry. Massacres in Buffalo and Colorado Springs, the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, recurrent violence against Blacks by police, legislative assaults on trans and LGBTQ+ individuals, growing anti-Semitic rhetoric—these are only some of the signs that racism, hatred, and bigotry are persistent and ingrained. And so, we write.
In the face of these challenges, we are poised to continue our mission in 2023 and beyond. Poets Against Racism & Hate has a strategic plan, ready to be executed as we look to file for nonprofit status. Changing our name, for all the reasons Debbie has outlined, is part of that positioning. With a reading already completed in January, we have several more in the works, as well as an important collaboration with the Ohio Poetry Association and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. I’m proud of the work our community has done and confident that the due diligence we conducted supports a name change that encapsulates our future efforts. Let’s get on with it, together!