KIN Rooted in Hope

Janina Edwards and Leon Nixon deliver the poems Weatherford composed as she journeyed, literally and figuratively, to understand her family history. In particular, she renders how its power and continuity were interrupted by the horrors of enslavement by the Lloyd family on their Maryland plantation. Both narrators are dedicated to emphasizing line breaks and carefully chosen words that evoke imagery and feelings as Weatherford explores the past. While Nixon's narration is more straightforward, Edwards often uses accents and emotions to strengthen her portrayals. Some of the poems are told through the lens of history, while others are viewed through the poet's experiences while searching for connections. Some are linked to others; some are stand-alones. Many have unanswerable questions about progenitors intended to aid listeners' imaginations. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]