INHERITANCE A Visual Poem

Poet Elizabeth Acevedo’s narration of her groundbreaking spoken-word poem resonates with love, understanding, and heartbreak. Originally titled “Hair,” the work achieved viral fame during her 2014 poetry slam circuit. With a thrumming rhythm and exquisitely placed pauses, Acevedo celebrates the beauty and import of Black hair. Her voice dips in sorrow as she notes that too many Black women and girls engage in colorism and self-hate, buying into the fallacy that their hair needs to be “fixed,” for only white hair can be beautiful. Acevedo’s response to this painful yet powerful urge towards whiteness is delivered with passionate fury: “You can’t fix what was never broken.” This audio, while brief, is packed with insights and clarity. Listeners will want to hear it again and again. S.A.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Odyssey Honor © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2022]