Freedom Knows My Name takes readers on a poetic journey of seeking collective and personal freedom as a Black woman. By scanning the QR code on the back of the book, readers are transported to the author reading selected poems such: "For the Women Who Save Me," "Disruptions", "Ms. Potato Head (for Rachel Dolezal)." Harris-DeBerry's verbal autopsy of Dolezal's transracial declaration is masterful. "Strangers Wanting to Buy My House (Not for Sale)" is a visual commentary on gentrification. The poet also explores her family's migration roots from the South to Cleveland and Ohio to living in New Orleans in the poem, "Super Sunday." Poet icon, Sonia Sanchez, is also celebrated in "Sonia." This is a needed conversation in the palm of your hands.

Author: Kelly Harris-Deberry
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Xavier Review Press
Published: 08/05/2020
Pages: 108
Weight: 0.37lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.26d
ISBN: 9781883275297

About the Author
Harris-Deberry, Kelly: - Kelly Harris-DeBerry received her undergraduate degree from Kent State University and her MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. She has received fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center and Cave Canem. Some of her recent publishing credits include: 400yrs: The story of Black people in poems written from love 1619-2019, Words Beats & Life The Global Journal of Hip Hop, Angles in the Wilderness: Young and Black in New Orleans and Beyond, The National Parks Service Centennial Commemoration publication with Sonia Sanchez, Yale University's Caduceus Journal, Southern Review, Say it Loud: Poems for James Brown and many more. Known as a literary curator, Kelly has developed programming for organizations and festivals. Her podcast episode for About Place Journal called Congo Square: Sustaining the Sacred Post-Katrina highlights her talents as a producer and researcher. Kelly is a former guest poetry editor for Bayou Magazine at the University of New Orleans. She serves her literary community as the New Orleans Poets & Writers' Literary Coordinator, freelance writer and on various community projects. She also owns a small communications boutique that serves nonprofits and artists.