Joy in the Belly of a Riot

Exquisitely lyrical and boldly resonant, Fant’s poems excavate the nightmares of a childhood marked by poverty, violence, racism, and the loss of countless loved ones. Suffering seemed endemic to neighborhoods like hers, and yet, in Fant’s own words, ‘I keep trying to write about the trauma, but the joy won’t let me’. Steeped in a rich Black Christian tradition and drawing on Scripture for artistic inspiration, Fant’s verse offers solace and guidance for all, from the devout to the skeptical. In these poems Fant demands that we see her, and her community, throug more than our grief. As she closes this profound collection, she gently preaches that we choose life and reminds us that ‘wholeness is our birthright’. ‘Joy in the Belly of a Riot’ is a healing balm in times of sustained uncertainty and a rock upon which we can build and sustain a foundation of joy.