Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
All characters reduced
My Mother Was a Freedom Fighter - cover

We are sorry! The publisher (or author) gave us the instruction to take down this book from our catalog. But please don't worry, you still have more than 500,000 other books you can enjoy!

My Mother Was a Freedom Fighter

Aja Monet

Publisher: Haymarket Books

  • 0
  • 3
  • 0

Summary

I am 27 and have never killed a manbut I know the face of death as if heirloommy 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.
Available since: 05/22/2017.

Other books that might interest you

  • The Raven - cover

    The Raven

    Edgar Allan Poe

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    “Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door! 
    Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!” 
    Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” 
      
    Nevermore…Nevermore…Nevermore. Ever since Edgar Allen Poe penned those words to paper in 1845, the infamous response of the raven has continued to echo throughout history. The poem has become so familiar that we know it in our bones. From the memorable opening line—Once upon a midnight dreary—Poe paints a bleak scene that swiftly catapults us to the depths of heartbreak and grief. 
      
    This edition opens with commentary from the great critic Edmund C. Stedman. His insights will satisfy students, scholars, and poetry enthusiasts looking to deepen their understanding of this profound piece of literature. 
      
    Poe’s written masterpiece truly comes alive in this audio performance. Experience the musical quality, heart-pounding rhythm, and haunting notes as never before. Nevermore…Nevermore…Nevermore.
    Show book
  • The Poetry of Robert Seymour Bridges - cover

    The Poetry of Robert Seymour...

    Robert Seymour Bridges

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Robert Seymour Bridges, OM was born on 23rd October 1844 at Walmer in Kent where he spent his early childhood in a house overlooking the anchoring ground of the British fleet.  
    His father died aged only 47 in 1853. A year later his mother remarried and the family relocated to Rochdale, where his stepfather was the vicar.  
    In 1854 Bridges was sent to Eton College and attended until 1863.  After Eton he went to Corpus Christi College at Oxford. There he became good friends with Gerard Manley Hopkins and would later compile an edition of his poems that is now considered a major contribution to English literature. 
    He graduated from Oxford, in 1867, with a second-class degree in literae humaniores.  Initially he planned to join the Church of England and travelled to the Middle East to broaden his religious horizons.  However, he soon decided that life as a physician would be a better path and, after 8 months studying German (that being the language of many scientific papers at the time) he began his study of medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in 1869.  His long-term ambition was that by the age of forty he could retire from medicine to devote himself to writing. 
    Unfortunately Bridges failed his final medical examinations in 1873 and, as unable to immediately retake the papers, spent six months in Italy learning Italian as well as immersing himself in its art. In July 1874 he went to Dublin to continue his medical studies. Re-examined in December he passed and became a house physician at St Bartholomew's Hospital. It was whilst here that he engaged in a series of highly critical remarks about the Victorian medical establishment. One such was his claim that whilst working as a young doctor he saw a staggering 30,940 patients in one year. 
    A bout of severe pneumonia and lung disease forced his retirement from the medical profession in 1882 and so, slightly ahead of schedule, he began his literary career in earnest.  He already been writing for several years and had published his first poetry collection in 1873.  
    After his illness and a trip to Italy, Bridges moved, with his mother, to Yattendon in Berkshire.  It was during this time, from 1882 to 1904, that Bridges wrote most of his best-known lyrics as well as eight plays and two masques, all in verse.  
    It was also here, in 1884, that he married Monica Waterhouse. They would go on to have three children and spend the rest of their lives in rural seclusion, in an idyllic marriage, first at Yattendon, then at Boars Hill, Oxford. 
    Bridges made an important contribution to hymnody with the publication in 1899 of his Yattendon Hymnal. This collection of hymns became a bridge between the Victorian hymnody of the late 19th century and the modern hymnody of the early 20th century. He was also a chorister at Yattendon church for 18 years. 
    In 1902 Monica and his daughter Margaret became seriously ill with tuberculosis, and a move from Yattendon to a healthier climate was in order. After several temporary homes they moved abroad to spend a year in Switzerland before returning to settle again in England at Chilswell House, which Bridges had designed, and built on Boar's Hill overlooking Oxford University.   
    His greatest achievement though was still some years ahead of him.  The office of Poet Laureate was held by Alfred Austin but with his death it was offered first to Rudyard Kipling, who refused it, and then to Bridges. He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1913 by George V, the only medical graduate to have ever held the office. Bridges, at this time, was neither highly regarded nor well known but a safe pair of hands in a World rapidly being overshadowed by the storms about to erupt over Europe and the First World War.
    Show book
  • Decade (NHB Modern Plays) - cover

    Decade (NHB Modern Plays)

    Various Various

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Two towers. Ten years. Twenty plays.
    Ten years after 9/11, twenty international writers respond to the defining event of our times.
    Published here are their individual plays, which woven together formed the basis of Decade, an immersive theatrical production from Headlong theatre company.
    The writers: Samuel Adamson, Mike Bartlett, Alecky Blythe, Adam Brace, Ben Ellis, Ella Hickson, Samuel D. Hunter, John Logan, Matthew Lopez, Mona Mansour, DC Moore, Abi Morgan, Rory Mullarkey, Janine Nabers, Lynn Nottage, Harrison David Rivers, Simon Schama, Christopher Shinn, Beth Steel, Alexandra Wood.
    'dazzling... a bold experiment in engaging with history, realised with flair' - Evening Standard
    'astonishing... deeply moving... illuminated by humour and a strong sense of human resilience.' - Telegraph
    Show book
  • Sweet William - A User's Guide to Shakespeare - cover

    Sweet William - A User's Guide...

    Michael Pennington

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Michael Pennington's solo show about Shakespeare, Sweet William, has been acclaimed throughout Europe and in the US as a unique blend of showmanship and scholarship. In this book, he deepens his exploration of Shakespeare's life and work - and the connection between the two - that lies at its heart.
    It is illuminated throughout by the unrivalled insights into the plays that Pennington has gained from the twenty thousand hours he has spent working on them as a leading actor, an artistic director and a director - and as the author of three previous books on individual Shakespeare plays.
    With practical analysis, wonderfully detailed and entertaining interpretations of characters and scenes, and vivid reflections on Shakespeare's theatre and ours, the result is a masterclass of the most enjoyable kind for theatregoers, professionals, students and anyone interested in Shakespeare.
    'A brilliant and intimate insider's guide to Shakespeare from one of our greatest classical actors.' Gregory Doran
    'Shakespeare comes wonderfully to life in Michael's beautifully written book.' Rupert Everett
    'engaging, absorbing, congenial, informative... a must-read for anyone interested in Shakespeare from almost any angle - actor, drama student, teacher, director, technician, literature student or audience member' The Stage
    Show book
  • Henry VIII (Argo Classics) - cover

    Henry VIII (Argo Classics)

    William Shakespeare

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. 
    ‘Of all losses, time is the most irrecuperable for it can never be redeemed.’ 
    Shakespeare's Henry VIII is a story of a ruthless race to power and the desire for an heir. 
    King Henry VIII listens to Cardinal Wolsey too much and gives 
    him power, which the Cardinal uses to convict a duke of treason. Henry meets Anne Boleyn, divorces his wife Katharine, and marries Anne. Anne gives birth to Princess Elizabeth who the Archbishop prophesies will become great. 
    All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. 
    Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. 
    The full cast includes: Frank Duncan; Robert Speaight; Richard Dare; Donald Layne-Smith; Denis McCarthy; Ian Lang; Peter Orr; Gary Watson; Terrence Hardiman; Michael Bates; Trevor Nunn; John Barton; Margaretta Scott; Prunella Scales; Vivienne Chatterton. 
    This top performing theatre production, hailed as one of the best, brings to life the European history through the lens of Shakespeare's Henry VIII. The cast's delivery of verse and respect for the integrity of the text is unparalleled, making it a must-see for all theatre enthusiasts. 
    For fans of Richard Parsons (GCSE English Shakespeare Text Guide), and Arthur Miller (Incident at Vichy).
    Show book
  • Distracted (NHB Modern Plays) - cover

    Distracted (NHB Modern Plays)

    Morna Pearson

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Avid insect-collector Jamie Purdy and his disintegrating granny are new to the Morayshire caravan park where George-Michael Skinner and his young mother Bunny lives. But this is no ordinary mother and son relationship.
    A darkly surreal and richly comic play from Morna Pearson, former member of the Traverse Theatre's Young Writers Group.
    Show book