Marcus Amaker, Charleston’s first Poet Laureate, has unleashed his latest project. empath is a 185-page poetry book, a custom journal and a poetry and jazz album with Grammy-nominated musician/producer Quentin E. Baxter.
“empath is a project about connection and conversation. It’s about the empathy I feel for others on a small and large scale. These poems are inspired by the classrooms I’ve visited and the students who continue to spark me. There’s an abundance of love energy in this work - inspired by my wife, my cat and my family. And, of course, it’s about my deep love of Charleston," he said.
I found this book at a little local intersectional bookstore. One of the many signs in the front windows says, ANTI-RACIST. The poetry is simple but powerful. It is about beautiful and tragic moments in life. Love. Unique places in Charleston. Ancestors. Civil Rights Activists. Gentrification. The reality of racism in the South, how its legacy continues each day. Experiences of a Black man, in what is known as the ‘Holy City’. Highly recommended!