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What in the fresh hell is this response? Look, y'all tried to do a positive thing but are showing, yet again, that what readers and contributors have been asking for is not being understood on a deeper level. Let's explore a bit... https://twitter.com/poetrymagazine/status/1356402254773948419
Many have long called for the magazine and foundation to take more concrete steps to support the work of poets who, due to structural and systematic injustices, cannot participate in the literary project known as poetry to the same degree as the most privileged.
It's great to recognize incarcerated people are such a population, given the intersecting violences at play in the administering of what the state calls "justice." We know and believe justice to be something else entirely, to take measure and address the harm done in community.
Therefore, at times, the broad aim of inclusion will inevitably be complicated by the imperative to root out communal/social violence and to refuse to amplify it while flying the banner of justice, equity and equality. This is one of those situations.
The marketing of the cause superseded the substance of the cause, as is evident by this response. That's irresponsible. And, as a result, more harm was done. More mistrust was built. And more evidence was offered that critical lessons from the past year were not learned.
I hold nothing, really, against the guest editors from what I've learned thus far. We don't always know the truths surrounding the people whose work appears in front of us for consideration; what matters however, is how we respond to the revelations, should they be concerning.
By offering this response, the guest editors have been undermined and it begs question if their efforts were truly understood or valued. They are owed an apology just as readers are and certainly survivors of sexual violence of all ages who must contend this misguided defense.
At what point will the foundation & magazine admit it doesn't know how to do this work and allow those who do the room and resources to show how it's done? Divestiture of power is required for this work, dismantling barriers that breed power to begin with. Not optional, required.
This isn't even outrage getting the better of me. I couldn't be calmer in my disappointment, my unsurprised disappointment.
