Social justice poetry, poetry of dissent, protest poetry, poetry of witness, political poetry—many names exist for the kind of poems PARH USA members write. But in every name is the word “poetry.” In the PARH USA Social Justice Poetry Workshop, we urge participants to keep in mind that they are poets, not propagandists. That a […]
Social Justice Poetry and the Epistolary Form Read More »
By Tabassam Shah, Member, Poets Against Racism & Hate USA(updated June 11, 2025) “Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” —Mary Oliver1 “…poetry is a force for community light, community resilience, and community health.” —Tess Taylor (Poet Laureate Fellow, Academy of American Poets)2 In her February blog post, Debbie Allen,
The Necessity of Community—Now More Than Ever Read More »
By Debbie Allen, Cofounder, Poets Against Racism & Hate USA The flow of hate-derived, hate-fermenting commotion spewing from the White House during this onset of Donald Trump’s second presidency is having its intended effect. Many are stunned, speechless and paralyzed, wondering what to do in response. As poets, we know what to do. Write. Write
Fighting Firehose with Fire Read More »
