What does it mean to be Black in America? In this book, Pierre W. Orelus uses his poetry to unpack this question, unmasking racism, sexism, and oppression in America. The 59 poems in this collection deal with a wide range of topics, from immigration to xenophobia, from Black pride to Black rage, from parenting to female empowerment.

Foreword: How Does It Feel Like to Be a Problem in the United States of America?  Awad Ibrahim Introduction PART 1 1 Feeling the Blues in the United States of America 2 In Search of a Safe Place 3 We’re Not Going Anywhere 4 From the Ghetto to the Ivory Tower 5 The Resilient Black Woman 6 The Oppressed of the Americas 7 Feeling in Exile in My Own Land 8 The Misrepresentation of People of the Global Majority 9 The Vetted Immigrants 10 Phobias in the United States 11 The Narcissist with the Blue Eyes 12 Why Are Black People So Angry? 13 What Happens to the Black Nation? 14 Black Pride 15 The Woman Who Floats 16 Still Standing in Front of You 17 In the Memory of George Floyd 18 How It Feels to Be Black in the Americas 19 We’re Rising up in Multi Colors 20 Love Always Trumps over Hate 21 I Am Black, and I Am Enough! 22 How Real Love Feels Like 23 The COVID-19 Pandemic of Color 24 Love Is All That We Need 25 Raising Queer Teens 26 Cancer Sucks! 27 The Death of the Nation 28 When Love Is Gone 29 The Fear of Death 30 How to Spot a Psychopath 31 You’re a Beautiful Wave 32 On Co-Parenting 33 The Depressed 34 Discovering African Spirituality 35 On Forgiveness 36 Living in the Future 37 In Honor of Our Black Ancestors 38 The Beauty in Solitude PART 2 39 Where Is the God for Black People? 40 Black Exodus 41 Open Letter to Our Ancestors 42 Only the Truth Will Set US Free 43 Involuntary Exile 44 The Day of Revolt 45 Bloody Day 46 God, Where Are You? 47 The Black Child 48 Dear Black Women 49 African Goddess 50 Life as a Circle 51 Black Youth 52 I Have Another Dream 53 Light in Hope 54 Fighting for Humanity 55 Dark Night in the Heart of a Coup 56 The Danger of Words 57 You Are My Redemption 58 Dear White Americans: An Open Letter Afterword: A Long and Immense Cry That Rips the Air!  Gina Thésée