Conversion Theory

by Darius Simpson

Conversion Theory is the first-ever published poetry collection of Darius Simpson, award-winning spoken word artist, writer, and social justice activist. This book is a reflection of how Darius has come to experience the United States and its relation to direct action, culture, community, and creative work of African Americans. Since 2014, specifically the murder of Mike Brown and the rebellion that followed, there had been emphasis in media coverage on police brutality and the string of non-indictments which were never far behind. Conversion Theory highlights many of these injustices while intertwining simple truths of what it has always meant to be black in the U.S. With the use of personal stories, persona poems, and historical facts, Darius brings the ugly truths to light while encouraging us all to continue in our pursuit of “justice for all”. In some imaginative and some literal ways each poem stands as a demand in exchange for the peace which is so often stipulated on black brown voices of dissent.

Genres: Poetry

116 pages, Paperback

Published January 5, 2018

Reviews

[Ally]

if we have to die,
let it be at 3 a.m.
after the music stops
after the liquor store closes
after the last rotation finds stillness
and there is no more basement to belong in.

- "Outro (A Better DJ)"

---

after only a few weeks of self-love
all the cells of the old sickness, let's call them "white blood",
are nowhere to be found

- "Cheap Capes or the Money to Save Ourselves (S.O.S.)"

---

call it a nap if you must
a moment so quiet
we can afford, finally,
to be unconscious.

- "Type of Quiet You Can Raise a Family On"

---

so, perhaps something that doesn't
repeat is not that the best option
how else would we predict being sliced
and avoid serving life in the pan.

- "Pi"

---

_instructions to the artist:_
make a fist,
call it a paintbrush,
your arm, a tool for expression
this jaw a can of paint
a jar of "just kidding"
cover the walls red
flood the ceiling in this wet
furnish the curtains a new tongue

- "Parental Rights to Our Own Language"

[Alex Nuttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've heard many poems by Darius Simpson, and the poems in this book really show a new level of poetry, not only for him, but for the art of poetry as a whole. Absolutely incredible and important poems.