Freedom Poems is a poetry collection that gives readers a glimpse of religion, education, racism, politics, and world issues that intrigue the mind and soul. Dr. Jacobs raises brows with queries that follow precise pieces for readers to document their feelings and sentiments. After reading this repertoire, readers will anxiously await for Freedom Poems Volume II.

I am 27 and have never killed a man but I know the face of death as if heirloom my country memorizes murder as lullaby —from “For Fahd” Textured with the sights and sounds of growing up in East New York in the nineties, to school on the South Side of Chicago, all the way to the olive groves of Palestine, My Mother Is a Freedom Fighter is Aja Monet’s ode to mothers, daughters, and sisters—the tiny gods who fight to change the world. Complemented by striking cover art from Carrie Mae Weems, these stunning poems tackle racism, sexism, genocide, displacement, heartbreak, and grief, but also love, motherhood, spirituality, and Black joy. Praise for Aja Monet: ““[Monet] is the true definition of an artist.” —Harry Belafonte ““In Paris, she walked out onto the stage, opened her mouth and spoke. At the first utterance I heard that rare something that said this is special and knew immediately that Aja Monet was one of the Ones who will mark the sound of the ages. She brings depth of voice to the voiceless, and through her we sing a powerful song.” —Carrie Mae Weems Of Cuban-Jamaican descent, Aja Monet is an internationally established poet, performer, singer, songwriter, educator, and human rights advocate. Monet is also the youngest person to win the legendary Nuyorican Poet’s Café Grand Slam title.

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An incendiary literary work more relevant now than ever. “if anger were an ax/it would split me open/and if this is a sermon/let it be my granddaddy’s sermon/my grandmother’s foottapping/steady rocking/choir singing” —from “This Is Not a New Age” First published in 1998, Imagine Being More Afraid of Freedom than Slavery is the debut collection by acclaimed poet and performer Pamela Sneed. Provocative and potent, it tackles the political and personal issues of enslavement, sexuality, emotional trauma, and abuse. These poems chart the journey of an artist trying to escape cycles of dependency and reclaim lost self and identity. Drawing parallels to Harriet Tubman’s journey on the Underground Railroad, Sneed’s explorations of the woods are a metaphor and emotional path one must explore to attain self-ownership. Sneed’s poems are bound by the search for love, freedom, and justice—from images of lesbian love to Emmet Till’s bloated body, they offer a raging cry and a roadmap for those interested in transforming the personal into social justice and abolitionist practices.

Since the 1970s, poet Linton Kwesi Johnson has been putting pen to paper to refute W.H. Auden’s claim that “poetry makes nothing happen.” For Johnson, only the second living poet to have been published in the Penguin Modern Classics series, writing has always been “a political act” and poetry “a cultural weapon.” In Dread Poetry and Freedom David Austin explores the themes of poetry, political consciousness, and social transformation through the prism of Johnson’s work. Drawing from the Bible, reggae and Rastafari, and surrealism, socialism, and feminism, and in dialogue with Aimé Césaire and Frantz Fanon, C.L.R. James and Walter Rodney, W.E.B. Du Bois and the poetry of d’bi young anitafrika, Johnson’s work becomes a crucial point of reflection on the meaning of freedom in this masterful and rich study.

A collection of poems by the African-American poet Langston Hughes.

The Prophet by Khalil Gibran is a timeless masterpiece that transcends borders and cultures with its profound wisdom and poetic beauty. Set in the fictional town of Orphalese, the narrative unfolds as Almustafa, a revered prophet, prepares to depart after living among the people for twelve years. Through a series of poetic discourses, Almustafa shares his insights on various aspects of life, including love, marriage, work, freedom, and spirituality. Each chapter delves into the depths of the human soul, offering timeless truths and profound reflections that resonate with readers across generations. The Prophet has been translated into over 100 languages, making it one of the most translated books of all time. It has never been out of print since its first publication in 1923, constantly finding new readers who resonate with its message. KAHLIL GIBRAN [1883-1931] was a renowned Lebanese-American poet, philosopher, and artist. He is best known for his masterpiece, The Prophet, which has been translated into over fifty languages and continues to inspire readers worldwide. Gibran's works explore themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, blending Eastern mysticism with Western philosophy.