There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé by Morgan Parker

Names of significance to the Black community and society as a whole, again showing the ups and downs of what it is to be a Black woman. Parker then throws in names of women such as Nikki Giovanni, Sandra Bland, Whitney Houston, and Shonda Rhimes.

Parker throws out words and phrases like “dead,” “dying,” “carefree,” and “exotic ” phrases like “chickenhead,” “at risk,” and “I am hungry,” which show the negative and the positive sides of how society looks at a Black girl. The next poem that really zeros in on what it feels like to be a Black person in today’s society, particularly a woman, is “13 Ways Of Looking At A Black Girl.” The poem is what seems to be a randomized list of terms, names, and phrases that may come to mind when thinking of a Black woman. It’s a powerful piece with a title that evokes thoughts of strife and majesty. It’s a creative piece, calling on “Auntie Angela,” “Miss Holiday,” “Michael,” and “Dave Chappelle,” all major African American and Black figures of yesterday and today. It’s also a wonderful example of the pain that can be felt when you don’t get your way, another example of intriguing work.Īnother poem that is just as powerful is the piece “Afro.” In it, Parker explains the tragic ups and downs that make up being African American, or Black, in what feels like a mash up of this and the past century. The image for me shows exactly what happens in the book: a person that is usually seen as a strong powerhouse, broken down and beaten, and shown in a new light.įor example, in the poem “The President Has Never Said The Word Black,” Parker thoughtfully goes through why it hurts so much that the first African American President of the United States never called himself “Black,” or referred to his “brothers and sisters” as “Black.” It’s a powerful piece that really brings to attention what it feels like to be a Black American. The cover itself shows a woman sprawled on a couch with mascara rolling down her face. It’s a testament to how dynamic poetry can be, and is. Morgan Parker’s work, covering every topic from the first Black President to Beyoncé celebrating Black History Month, is dynamic and intriguing.

There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé by Morgan Parker