What does respectful amplification mean?
Image source: Pixabay
This is going to be a super short blog post. Respectful amplification of a BIPOC poet’s voice, to me, may include:
Publicizing existing legal weblinks, providing links to the poet’s website, and centering that person’s work and elevating that person’s voice.
Take time to understand the #OwnVoices discussion - some links are provided below.
On April 20th, for the launch event, I think it may be appropriate to send a short heartfelt message about how a poet’s words moved you, in a manner that is respectful. It may be alright to read a very short quote - a line, a phrase - with appropriate citation, and without trying to assume you understand from within a community that isn’t your own - so please do not do that; if in doubt, don’t read aloud: instead, just speak about the work and spread the word about that diverse poet. And please, obviously, just a line or a turn of phrase.
All you might say is - “I was so moved by this work, it helped me understand an aspect of XXX issue.” Or “this poet’s words are so powerful - and here is a way I have woven the words into my teaching plan.” Or just “this poem moved me deeply and I hope everyone else will read it and think deeply about what it addresses - here’s a link.” If a poem is in the public domain, you certainly may use that, as well.
And if you don’t feel comfortable doing any of this, there’s no pressure to participate to show your support. Your support as we grow will be far more important, so please stay in touch with this initiative and follow us as we grow. It’s not as important how a journey begins as where it leads - and we’re hoping this Diverse Verse journey will lead to the respectful amplification of many BIPOC poets in years to come. We hope you’ll visit us, and join us on this journey - of which this event is just a small first step.
Below are some links to better understand the concept of #OwnVoices, if it is something you are unfamiliar with. This is an incredibly vital discussion to enter into whenever one looks at diversity. The issue of #ownvoices. is intrinsically linked to respectful quotation and respectful amplification of another person’s work. Here are a few links that provide a starting point:
https://amleibowitz.com/2017/12/06/the-importance-of-ownvoices/
https://seekerville.blogspot.com/2019/10/lets-talk-ownvoices.html
https://readingpartners.org/blog/12-diverse-childrens-books-written-ownvoices-authors/
https://www.readbrightly.com/why-we-need-diverse-authors-in-kids-ya-lit/
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/04/228847/own-voices-movement-ya-literature-impact
http://www.norwoodlibrary.org/the-importance-of-ownvoices/
https://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/the-problem-with-counting
https://diymfa.com/community/diversity-kidlit-better-not-enough
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/04/anika-noni-rose-a-raisin-in-the-sun-segregated-literature
https://padlet.com/jholder_llp/diversity
https://www.buzzfeed.com/danieljoseolder/diversity-is-not-enough
Most important, from the creator of the #OwnVoices hashtag, brilliant author, Corinne Duyvis:
https://www.corinneduyvis.net/ownvoices/
Thank you.
