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In the middle of one of the most tumultuous years in recent memory, nothing could be taken for granted. For some, the end of pandemic quarantine and a gradual return to normalcy was on the horizon, whether welcome or not. Still, for the African-American community, normalcy was a rejected, contemptible idea. With the country reeling from the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, demonstrations were held across the nation demanding justice and reform, often met with opposition and hostility. In this book of collected poems, the author provides daily inspiration to her readers that serves as a call to action anchored by a personal reflection. These poems serve as a plea for progress, dated and encapsulating each of the challenging days of that difficult summer.
Each of the poems or verses in this book is designed to inspire an active mentality in its readers, so they won't simply coast through events numbly but process them and act on their feelings. In a way that puts the author in the same shoes as her readers, each selection is capped off with a biblical reference that prompted the poet's line of thinking for that day, providing context and additional reading for each poem. Between the sections of this book, each representing a different month of that particular summer, there is a synopsis of both the current events that provided the emotions and call to action found in each poem of that chapter and some personal reflection that puts the words into the proper light. Going back and reflecting on such challenging times is not an easy task but necessary for all if moving forward and progressing to a better place is possible. The poems featured here offer a strong lens with which to do so.