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"Occupy Whiteness is a collection of hybrid erasure poems from inaugural Dallas Poet Laureate and multi-world slam competition winner Joaquâin Zihuatanejo. Using long-form works of literature by white, male, straight authors, Zihuatanejo occupies these works by erasing words and pages of these works, leaving only a handful of each work. The white space that remains becomes colonized Brown verse. Occupy Whiteness is an act of rebellion that reclaims spaces and highlights a history of erasure of Brown life. These poems are also haunted and blessed by the image of abuelos who brave the river and desert into border states for the opportunity of freedom. Ultimately these poems are meant to agitate and create uneasiness that makes the reader realize that Zihuatanejo and immigrant children are not Other. These poems strive to depict this equally beautiful and brutal place we call home"--
About the author
Joaquin Zihuatanejo is a poet, spoken word artist, and award-winning teacher. Born and raised in the barrio of East Dallas, in his work Joaquín strives to capture the duality of the Chicano culture. He¿s been called, ¿one of the most dynamic and passionate performance poets in the country, melding equal parts comedy, poetry, and dramatic monologue into a crowd-pleasing display of verbal fireworks¿ always thrilling, Joaquín¿s hilariously manic presentation is full of compassion and nuance, never sacrificing substance for style.¿ Joaquin was a National Poetry Slam Finalist, a Grand Slam Spoken Word Champion, and HBO Def Poet, performing at universities, conferences and poetry slams all over the North America and Europe.
Summary
Occupy Whiteness is a collection of hybrid erasure poems from inaugural Dallas Poet Laureate and multi-world slam competition winner Joaquín Zihuatanejo.Starting from long-form works of literature by straight, white men, Joaquín Zihuatanejo occupies their pages, erasing words and sections, leaving only his poetry behind — the white space that remains becoming colonized Brown verse.
Occupy Whiteness is an act of rebellion that reclaims spaces and highlights a history of erasure of Brown life.
An unflinching look at the present day, the collection is haunted and blessed by the image of ancestors who braved the river and desert to travel into border states for the opportunity of freedom. These are poems meant to agitate and create unease, to make the reader realize that neither their author nor the immigrant children he describes are Other. Through poems and interspersed photography from the border, Zihuatanejo poignantly depicts this equally beautiful and brutal place we call home.
Foreword
- Serial rights targeting Poetry, New Yorker, The Nation, American Poetry Review, Granta, AGNI, Kenyon Review, Yale Review, Ploughshares, NYT Magazine, Texas Monthly
- Promotion via the poet’s extensive network of contacts in the literary world
- Targeted outreach to poetry reviewers and outlets, including the New York Times, Harriet Books
- Extensive Texas/Dallas media outreach: Texas Monthly, Dallas Morning News, D Magazine, Dallas Observer, KERA
- Promotion at/events pitched for Texas Book Festival, Dallas Literary Festival, AWP, Winter Institute
- Multiple print galley runs targeting media and booksellers
- Multi-city tour with events in Texas, New York, and beyond
- Promotion on the publisher’s website (deepvellum.org), Twitter feed (@deepvellum), and Facebook page (/deepvellum); publisher’s e-newsletter to booksellers, reviewers, librarians
