2 Parts Oxygen

by Tariq Toure

Toure's sophomore collection 2 Parts Oxygen is a weighty tribute to family roots, the miraculous privilege of fatherhood, and Islam in Black America. Each poem bears its own load and masterfully ushers the reader in to Toure's house of words, stories, and intricate lives. It is a thoughtful celebration of joy in the midst of a chaotic era.

Regarded by Hip Hop artist Black Thought as the "Amiri Baraka of our time" Tariq Touré is the soul stirring Baltimore born, Muslim griot, whose poetry carries ages wisdom in each letter. Touré's debut collection of poems, Black Seeds, blitzed through the core of inequality, and proxy war on Black communities in America, winning Best Poetry book of Baltimore in 2016.

His poems graced the pages of NAACP image award nominated book A Beautiful Ghetto by heralded photojournalist Devin Allen. In 2017, Touré summoned one of the most powerful oral depictions of the contradictions and conflicts surrounding NFL players and their right to free speech with his Al Jazeera produced poem, For the Love of The Game. The viral poem garnered the praise of civil rights icons such as Omar Suleiman.

143 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2018

About the author

Tariq Touré an award winning Writer from West, Baltimore, Maryland. Touré's poetry and prose covers Social justice, Black Muslim Narratives, Arts and Current events. Among publications that have featured his work is Muslim Matters, Salon, Washington Post, and HBCU Buzz. Black Seeds, Toure's debut collection of poetry is ranked in the top 500 in African American Poetry and Literature on Amazon and the winner of Best Poetry Book of Baltimore in 2016 by City Paper Magazine. Touré has been a featured lecturer/performer at Howard University, Princeton University, Georgetown University, and Morgan State University among many others. In 2017, Toure's writing was contributed to Gordon Parks' Fellow and Times Magazine featured Photojournalist Devin Allen's book and exhibit, A Beautiful Ghetto.

Reviews

[Nouf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my first books from Toure and I have to say, I am extremely impressed. I'll be honest, I don't really know how to review poetry, but I felt that this book can relate to anyone who is interested in any genre. I'd give this more than 5 stars if I could - enjoyed every page

[Raghad ElBashir · Rating 5 out of 5]

entirely painful and simultaneously breath-taking poetry.

[Hoda Lajili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed every page of this book. I rarely pick up a poetry book that I cannot put down until this one.

[Tiara Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tariq's writings have a way of speaking to us all. He’s a profound artist with the capability of speaking of the past, present, and future through a multi generational lens. Each poem has found a way to take me back through different parts of my own life to remember the blessings and lessons. Two Parts Oxygen reminded me to breathe through it all. Life is a process. It’s scary & it will bruise you while people and things use you. Reading this book I was reignited to fight, to hold on to the beautiful memories and beautiful people I am blessed to encounter and to be open enough to allow God to use me!

Thank you Tariq Toure!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Author and Poet. I would highly recommend this read to anyone and everyone. Without any spoilers I would say its a motivational journey of real issues and a journey through poetry in this day and age.