On November 9th, 2016, the day after the Presidential election, I found myself in complete shock and disbelief. I quickly realized I was going through the five stages of grief. At first I was in denial--This can't be happening? This isn't real? Next, was anger. I was horrified at a country that let its entire population down and fearful of the dangers headed our way. I knew bargaining wasn't really a valid option for me....I had nothing to barter with. Next, I was overwhelmed with emotions. I would burst into tears when I'd take my kids to school. I would become depressed as I read the news. I was afraid for the planet, our education system, women's rights, etc. So in January 2017, I deleted all of my social media accounts and game apps from my phones. I pledged to take the time that I would've spent on these things and use it towards educating myself about not just the political system, but those aspects I find important/critical to myself, my country, my planet. I wrote a list of those topics and began reading, watching, researching, writing, and participating in local community events, townhalls, and meetings. As I was reading, I would become inspired by phrases, stories, symbolism, or concepts and I started to put it into poetry. Reading became my muse. Poetry became my outlet and my voice. The following is a list of some of the books I've read thus far that have inspired my poetry.
BOOKS: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (I read this prior to 2017, but still reference it in my writing) Evicted by Matthew Desmond Modern Death by Haider Warraich M.D. Strangers in their own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild Life's Work by Dr. Willie Parker Nickeled & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich War is....(a culmination of essays) The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing To Change Themselves and the World Around Them by Erin Gruwell The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby You Don't Have To Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie (a memoir)
VIDEOS: Gunned Down: The Power of the NRA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsrK6V9OcQM https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_we_should_all_be_feminists https://www.ted.com/talks/luma_mufleh_don_t_feel_sorry_for_refugees_believe_in_them https://www.ted.com/talks/david_miliband_the_refugee_crisis_is_a_test_of_our_character https://www.ted.com/talks/stephanie_busari_how_fake_news_does_real_harm https://www.ted.com/talks/emtithal_mahmoud_a_young_poet_tells_the_story_of_darfur https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_on_global_population_growth https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty https://www.ted.com/talks/naomi_oreskes_why_we_should_believe_in_science https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_specter_the_danger_of_science_denial https://www.ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_talk_about_an_injustice https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_our_loss_of_wisdom
WEBSITES: Know a veteran with PTSD (aka: Soldier's Heart)? Please visit: http://www.realwarriors.net/ Questions about reproductive care-Find honest, science based answers here: https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/ Racial injustice and prison reform: https://eji.org/ Diplomacy & mediation instead of war: https://www.hdcentre.org/