The Poet X

Mocha Girl
Apr 17, 2019
2 min read

“And I think about all the things we could be

if we were never told our bodies were not built for them.”

We met at The Cheesecake Factory in Winter Park where Richelle, our moderator, guided us through a thoughtful, introspective discussion of National Book Award Winner for Young Adults, The Poet X. It is an infusion of Afro-Dominican influence woven into a narrative of finding yourself into something fresh and breathtaking.

We were joined by three exceptional young ladies, daughters of NCBC members, who participated in the discussion and shared their thoughts and comments on the issues presented in the book:

The female body - the male gaze and the lack of guidance women/mothers give their daughters to help them navigate and handle these situations.
Girls are stripped of their voices and agency - largely by cultural traditions and expectations (girls/children are expected to be seen, not heard) and religious convictions (remain chaste until marriage; labeling and shunning if she steps outside of these boundaries.)
Children confined to the ignorance of their parents:
Mother abusing/slapping her
No creative outlets; mother didn't appreciate her poems, journaling
Church-focused activities as the only outlet; Religious beliefs/dogma/ritual can sometimes stifles creativity and self-expression
No space for acceptance of alternate lifestyles (closeted gay brother)