Elizabeth Acevedo is notably known for her robust diction–something captured in her slam poetry performances and talks. The daughter of Dominican immigrants, Elizabeth has embodied the cultural constituents that make up her identity. In her distinguished slam poem “Afro-Latina,” she speaks of the components that mold together the Afro-Dominican components in her. From her hair, her skin tone, and her tongue, Elizabeth has seamlessly provided a multitude of young girls with words that drive them to appreciate the brown in them. After compellingly clicking through every one her videos on YouTube, I found myself installed with a sudden drive to appreciate the skin I had despised years before. I sought words that would grasp my cultural identity as well. Elizabeth has been recognized as a US National Slam Champion and has given TED Talks, shaping her writing and performing career in varying manners.
Her upcoming novel, The Poet X, is set to be released by HarperCollins in 2018. The story follows a young Dominican-American girl, Xiomara, who revels in the influence of slam poetry as a form of expression as she struggles to identify with her family, faith, and relationships. I was delighted to have received contact from her and ask her questions about this piece of work and how it has further shaped her writing.
“Write the stories you’ve always wanted to read. Allow yourself to be the main character of your narrative. Become both the window and the mirror for those who read your work. Lean into fear. Write the hard poem.”
