This March, the more than 25 organizations nationwide that compose the Poetry Coalition will launch “I am deliberate / and afraid / of nothing: Poetry & Protest”, the coalition’s fourth annual programming initiative. For this collaborative effort, the organizations will offer a range of events and publications that speak to this timely theme. This programming is made possible in part by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Ford Foundation which were secured by the Academy of American Poets.
The line “I am deliberate / and afraid / of nothing: Poetry & Protest” is from the poem “New Year’s Day” by Audre Lorde.
The theme was inspired by a number of occasions taking place this year, including the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote and the 50th anniversary of the tragic shooting of student protesters at Kent State University. It also speaks to the role poetry has played in encouraging civic and grassroots engagement, and contributing to public debate and dialogue.
All organizations and others interested are invited to program on this theme in March and share their efforts using the hashtags #PoetryandDemocracy and #PoetryCoalition.