Ashley Elizabeth

And what a year it has been, but I have no plans on stopping.

I am currently working on at least one new collection of poetry and a collection on essays while still *checks notes* teaching middle school English/Language Arts.

It may seem to be slow coming, but the production is ramping up. The work requires research and travel, which is hard to do as a full-time educator. But we move on. We save. We continue. We keep using our words and voices to fight. After all, reading and writing as a Black person, a descendant of a Foundational Black American at that, is a radical act, an act of protest.

That is my power.

Today, I had my first tabling event, thanks to Baker artists and the Baltimore Book Festival, and it went amazingly well. I took copies of all 5 books (that I currently still have a hard time comprehending exist) as well as a broadside of one of my favorite pieces. Any guesses which poem that was for this Baltimore event?

Several dozen people stopped by and asked about my work, and my heart is so full. Keep asking questions. I’m writing the revolution, I’m keeping others’ names uplifted, I’m honoring the ancestors. Hop on board.