We Are Not Wearing Helmets: Poems

We Are Not Wearing Helmets is a collection of political love poems by Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, an immigrant living in New York City, that challenge the injustices of ageism, racism, and oppression. The poems are unapologetic, fierce, and confrontational while remaining caring and intimate, and they honor and cherish what is loved.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 88 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

We Are Not Wearing Helmets is a captivating collection of political love poems penned by Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, an immigrant residing in New York City. For many women of color in America, aging brings forth a myriad of challenges, including inadequate medical care, inhumane living conditions, poor nutrition, and a sense of isolation. Many seniors feel discarded, useless, and vulnerable. These poems fervently address the injustices of ageism, racism, and oppression, employing a blend of rage, forgiveness, honor, and endurance. In these turbulent political times, they serve as a soothing salve and a healing balm.

Born in Trinidad and raised in Queens, Boyce-Taylor weaves a tapestry of her own experiences from the lives and works of renowned Black women in history. She pays tribute to the women who have inspired her, including Audre Lorde, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ntozake Shange, and Winnie Mandela, as well as her mother, Eugenia Boyce, and her beloved daughter-in-law, Deisha Head Taylor.

The poems within this collection are unyielding, fierce, and confrontational, yet they remain deeply caring and intimate. They stand resolute in the face of adversity, boldly demanding what is rightfully theirs while simultaneously honoring and cherishing what is cherished. Through her words, Boyce-Taylor offers a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of women, particularly those who have faced adversity and fought for equality.

Weight: 170g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810144231