"Once upon a Black Imagination..." by Natasha Marin

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
July 30, 2021 

Once upon a Black Imagination...


Natasha Marin

The space of Blackness represents safety because this is where everyone can finally belong. The clumsy fantasy of Whiteness has finally been moved off the stage and back into the audience after being muted for taking up too much space.

People who previously believed they weren’t Black because they never believed Black to be synonymous with “human’’ unlearn their antiblackness, upend the clumsy possum of their proxy privilege, back away from the hot trash of color-blind rhetoric and stop talking about the impossibility of walking a mile in the shoes of others. No one apologizes for being Black because Being Black is more of a “you’re welcome” situation.

We are finally allowed to make mistakes and express our emotions and be as mediocre as we can allow ourselves to be. After 8 generations, we have forgotten the ways we now call “dominant” and make space for loving ourselves for no reason.

Copyright © 2021 by Natasha Marin. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on July 30, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets.

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast 

  

“‘Once upon a Black Imagination …’ comes from a practice of steeping myself in the Black Imaginary. I imagine Cities of Laughter, Cities of Tears, I imagine Redemption. I imagine safety and value and love and community. This poem is one of a series. Black Imagination takes many forms—exhibitions, books, audio—there are no limits to the Black Imagination and I feel honored to be a curator of this project and the recipient of these imaginary ‘visions’ if you will.”
Natasha Marin

Natasha Marin is a conceptual artist. She is the curator of BLACK IMAGINATION: Black Voices on Black Futures (McSweeney’s Publishing, 2020), which was a finalist for the 2020 Big Other Book Award for Nonfiction.

BLACK IMAGINATION: Black Voices on Black Futures
(McSweeney’s Publishing, 2020)

“America Gives Its Blackness Back To Me” by Shane McCrae
read more

“White Things” by Anne Spencer
read more

Thanks to R. Erica Doyle, author of proxy (Belladonna Books, 2013), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Watch a Q&A about Doyle’s curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year
This free, daily series is made possible by our readers. If you’re able, please consider donating to support this work. 
Become a monthly sustainer
join
Make a one-time gift
donate
Copyright © 2021 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
The Academy of American Poets
75 Maiden Lane
St #901
New York, NY 10038

Add us to your address book


View this email in your browser

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Older messages

"Landscape with a Hundred Turns" by Yanyi

Thursday, July 29, 2021

When you turned into a hundred rooms, Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 29, 2021 Landscape with a Hundred Turns Yanyi When you turned into a hundred rooms, I returned each month as a

"UPON Grief and Grievance: Art and Mourning in America...." by Ronaldo V. Wilson

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Firehose blast pummels. Torqued silhouettes. Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 28, 2021 UPON Grief and Grievance: Art and Mourning in America, New Museum, New York, 2021. / DOUBLE

A New Poem by Alberto Ríos, 2022 First Book Award Judge Announced, and more

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Support Poets.org July 27, 2021 Taking Your Olympic Measure Alberto Ríos —Poetry was an Olympic event from 1912-1948. Think of the records you have held: For one second, you were the world's

Summer Camp: Poems and Activities About the Future

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Themed poems, lesson plans, glossary terms, and more Facebook Twitter Instagram July 27, 2021 “Look back only for as long as you must, Then go forward into the history you will make.” —Alberto Ríos

"I Was a Good Wife" by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

and an even better / wolf, jawed to a thicket of lonely Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 27, 2021 I Was a Good Wife Vanessa Angélica Villarreal for helios, not yet a collapsed star

You Might Also Like

*This* Is How To Wear Skinny Jeans Like A Fashion Girl In 2025

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

The revival is here. The Zoe Report Daily The Zoe Report 3.11.2025 This Is How To Wear Skinny Jeans Like A Fashion Girl In 2025 (Style) This Is How To Wear Skinny Jeans Like A Fashion Girl In 2025 The

The Best Thing: March 11, 2025

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

The Best Thing is our weekly discussion thread where we share the one thing that we read, listened to, watched, did, or otherwise enjoyed recent… ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

The Most Groundbreaking Beauty Products Of 2025 Are...

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Brands are prioritizing innovation more than ever. The Zoe Report Beauty The Zoe Report 3.11.2025 (Beauty) The 2025 TZR Beauty Groundbreakers Awards (Your New Holy Grail Or Two) The 2025 TZR Beauty

Change Up #Legday With One of These Squat Variations

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

View in Browser Men's Health SHOP MVP EXCLUSIVES SUBSCRIBE Change Up #Legday With One of These Squat Variations Change Up #Legday With One of These Squat Variations The lower body staple is one of

Kylie Jenner Wore The Spiciest Plunging Crop Top While Kissing Timothée Chalamet

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Plus, Amanda Seyfried opens up about her busy year, your daily horoscope, and more. Mar. 11, 2025 Bustle Daily Amanda Seyfried at the Tory Burch Fall RTW 2025 fashion show as part of New York Fashion

Paris Fashion Week Is Getting Interesting Again

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Today in style, self, culture, and power. The Cut March 11, 2025 PARIS FASHION WEEK Fashion Is Getting Interesting Again Designs at Paris Fashion Week once again reflect the times with new aesthetics,

Your dinner table deserves to be lazier

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

NY delis are serving 'Bird Flu Bailout' sandwiches. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sophie Thatcher Lets In The Light

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Plus: Chet Hanks reaches new heights on Netflix's 'Running Point.' • Mar. 11, 2025 Up Next Your complete guide to industry-shaping entertainment news, exclusive interviews with A-list

Mastering Circumstance

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

“If a man does not master his circumstances then he is bound to be mastered by them.” ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Don't Fall for This Parking Fee Scam Text 🚨

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

How I Use the 'One in, One Out' Method for My Finances. You're not facing any fines. Not displaying correctly? View this newsletter online. TODAY'S FEATURED STORY Don't Fall for the