Summary
The book is divided into two distinct sections entitled "Fire Arise" and "Love Arise," each containing a series of in-depth poems concerning Black life. In the first grouping, [Barbara Haskins-Scott] addresses issues of racism in the not-so-distant past and now which, she believes, continuously strips Black people of their self esteem; records their deadly and dehumanizing history in America; and the sometimes latent spirituality that sleeps in these "oppressed" people that is yet to be unleashed. The poet comes out punching in poems like "Plantation Revisited," "Anointed Birth Canal," "World Trade Cemetery" and "A Note to Soap Opera Suckers."
In the second group, "Love Arise," the writer speaks about issues of Black love, and she's especially poignant in writing love poems about Black men. These gentle poems reflect tender admiration - like in her "R.V.S.P.," "Further On Up the Road," and "Unconditionally Yours." However, the militant scribe never lets the reader forget the Black man's pain either, as illustrated in sharp-edged verses like "Divided We Fall."Varyl Hawkins-DeLoatch, the mother of adult sons, was very impressed with the new poetry tome as well. She says that generally speaking, "I don't like poetry but the first two poems in 'Fire Arise' are very good, very inspirational and uplifting." Hawkins-DeLoatch, mother of celebrity rapper "U-God" of the Wu Tang Clan, says she thinks Haskins-Scott's poems prove especially beneficial "for someone (male or female) with low self-esteem." She ended by saying she would recommend the book.See the full content of this document
Extract
Underground Writer has Fertile, Poetic Mind
For nearly two decades, acquaintances and friends of Barbara Haskins-Scott, an "underground writer" widely known for years around Queens as "the guerilla poet," had begged Haskins-Scott to organize her fiery works into a properly published book. But up until now, the feisty po...
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