Refuse to Disappear

By Tara Betts,

Book cover of Refuse to Disappear

Book description

A new collection singing the survival and thriving of Black women, chosen by Cynthia Arrieu-King for the Hilary Tham Capital Collection.

"In the spirit of magic, potions, and inventory, this book calls up the language of both science and witchery to call roll on Black women. Betts says their names…


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Why read it?

1 author picked Refuse to Disappear as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

These poems bring burgeoned, whole, communal worlds alive, often at a glance. Language masterstrokes and arresting visuals leap out throughout. Tara Betts never lets go of a palpable thoughtfulness, so we remain unmistaken of what’s depicted and meant.

Refuse to Disappear is a flourishing but careful collection, one of the poet’s best. In the identity reflections, testaments to womanhood and social indictments are devotion to Americana and a high place in expanding it. The last section delivers my favorites, like “An Open Letter to the Voyeurs” and “Priest, the Pit Bull.” Every poem from the first to the last entitling…

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