{"product_id":"what-the-mirror-said","title":"What the Mirror Said \/\/ The Necessity of Black Women in Poetry","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen did you feel the pull of poetry? For Ashley M. Jones, the moment she knew she would be a poet was at seven years old--reciting \"Harriet Tubman\" by Eloise Greenfield. That moment, that poem, showed her there was a place for her in the world of literature as her full Black self. As she continued to grow as a person and a poet, becoming the first person of color and the youngest person to serve as Poet Laureate of Alabama, Jones encountered so many incredible Black women poets who showed her the possibilities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart critical essay, part personal essay collection,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat the Mirror Said\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etraces the influence of nine Black women poets in Jones's writing and life. She brings together historical biographical information, personal reflection, and close readings as she explores personal connections to poets from Phillis Wheatley to Patricia Smith. This book is expansive in its study, from classical metrical scansion to metaphorical explication. In offering new ways to interpret poems by important contemporary poets,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat the Mirror Said\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emakes the case for the need to study and celebrate Black women poets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAshley M. Jones\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is Associate Director of the University Honors Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Founding Director of the Magic City Poetry Festival. Her most recent book of poetry is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eLullaby for the Grieving\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (2025).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: University of Michigan Press\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublish Date: April 21, 2026\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePages: 100\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLanguage: English\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEAN\/UPC: 9780472040193\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: 8.3 X 5.5 X 0.4 inches | 0.4 pounds\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBISAC Categories: Literary Fiction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Ashley M. Jones","offers":[{"title":"(Back-Order) Paperback","offer_id":48064899907819,"sku":"9780472040193","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0253\/4014\/9820\/files\/9780472040193.jpg?v=1775744169","url":"https:\/\/rep.club\/products\/what-the-mirror-said","provider":"Reparations Club","version":"1.0","type":"link"}