What the Mirror Said: The Necessity of Black Women in Poetry

Using the symbolism of a mirror as a literary device, Jones, the youngest person and the first person of color to be appointed poet laureate of Alabama, offers readers a look at historical Black women poets who made a mark in society. From the 1700s to the present day, Jones explores the rhythmic, lyrical pulse of the poetic works of these Black pioneers representing the intersections of feminism, race, and gender; these women challenged societal norms using their voices. Readers will enjoy excerpts of works from Phyllis Wheatley, Geraldine Brooks, Lucille Clifton, Sonia Sanchez, Camille Dungy, Rita Dove, and Patricia Smith, who grace the pages with the authentic wisdom of women of the times. Jones reveals her awakening to the authenticity of the voice of poets in times past, as she affirms her own place in the literary canon, paying tribute to those whose shoulders upon which she stands.