(Andrews McMeel, November 2023)
In People Not Things: Love Poems for Humanity, Genesis Be offers a strikingly honest yet hopeful snapshot of her journey as a queer Black woman in America fighting for the humanity of her community.
Poignant and moving, this debut collection of poetry from Genesis Be bravely examines what it means to stay hopeful on the arduous journey to freedom.
Drawing on her activism and antiracist work as covered by the New York Times and VICE, Be examines tools of division and challenges our notion of freedom in an effort to combat racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. Equal parts delicate and unapologetic, People Not Things is a powerful debut that will speak to the hearts of readers from all walks of life.
Genesis Be is a critically acclaimed poet, peace activist, and artist from Biloxi, Mississippi. Her work has been featured in the Associated Press, New York Times, NY Daily News, Soledad O’Brien, and VICE. She often uses theatrical protest during her live performances to bring attention to both global and localized issues surrounding racial justice, peace movement, queer visibility and gender equity. She creates original paintings, poetry, and music under her ever-growing collection, People Not Things. As a Cultural Ambassador for the Government funded Meridian International Center, Be works to promote understanding and conflict transformation on a Global level. She is the subject of the documentary Mississippi Turning (unreleased) and continues the fight to improve race relations in her home state Mississippi. For more on Genesis, please visit genesisbe.com.