People's Project: Poems, Essays, and Art for Looking Forward

Description: "Inspired by Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith's conversations in the wake of the 2024 election, this is a collection of poems, essays, and visual art on what we--individually and collectively--can hold onto, and what we can work towards. In times of difficulty, with a government working against its own people, we must turn to our friends and loved ones to provide context, language, energy, and hope. The People's Project offers a range of perspectives, drawing wisdom from their communities and histories: from know-your-place aggression to crip time as a way forward, from finding strength in nature to how trans people provide a guide for the future, and how hope has everything to do with survival"--

Brief description: Saeed Jones is the author of Prelude to Bruise, winner of the 2015 PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry and the 2015 Stonewall Book Award/Barbara Gittings Literature Award. The poetry collection was also a finalist for the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as awards from Lambda Literary and the Publishing Triangle in 2015. Jones was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Lewisville, Texas. He earned a BA at Western Kentucky University and an MFA at Rutgers University-Newark. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is on Bluesky @TheFerocity.

Review Quotes: "More than just politically minded, The People's Project is the revolution itself--the activism needed to unite communities and incite change. Each story personifies a much-needed friend bringing comfort, telling truth, and recognizing pain. The anthology's power lies in its direct confrontation of our time while digging into the roots of America's relationship with fascism. Riveting and thought-provoking, the entries explore topics--including ableism, citizenship, labour, healthcare, and transness--all exploring what it means to survive together."
--Booklist

"After the election of 2024, poets Jones and Smith looked to their 'mentors, siblings on the page, and friends' for hope and solace, strategies and commiseration. Their collection of 27 essays, poems, and artwork honors that diverse community of writers and artists who share their reflections on how to cope with oppression and how to move forward....All underscore the crucial power of community. A stirring anthology."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Curated by two sterling poets, collecting prose and poetry and visual art, The People's Project is a 'community in book form' meant to help us all make that better world. With contributions from the likes of Chase Strangio, Imani Perry, Eula Biss, Joy Harjo, Marlon James, Ada Limon, Danez Smith, Mira Jacob, and many more, it's pretty much certain to inspire."
--LitHub