I Am Still Your Negro

Poet, author, and public speaker Valerie Mason-John (a.k.a. “Queenie”) highlights issues of the African Diaspora and the Black, female, Queer identity, and resists the currently existing overt and covert forms of colonialism through their fierce and brave writing. They are the author /editor of ten books. Their debut novel, Borrowed Body, won the 2006 Mind Book of the Year Award. They co-edited the award-winning anthology, The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry, and co-produced blackhalifax.com. Their most recent book is an edited collection: Afrikan Wisdom: New Voices Talk Black Liberation, Buddhism, and Beyond. Valerie lives in Vancouver. Find them online at valeriemason-john.com.

• ix Foreword George Elliott Clarkexiii IDxvii Introduction#UndocumentedBack a YardMy Father’s PrayerSticks and Stones#ThisIsAfricanDiasporaYaata’s LamentThe Ghost of Thomas PetersI Am AfricaAfrican FeetThe WindrushI Am Still Your NegroAnother One Bites the Dust#MeTooYaata’s YowlBusinessGolden VirginiaThe VillainThe Perfect RoadThe Couplet#MeTooPlaying Dead#IfMyPlantsCouldSpeakYaata’s GroanYellowknifeThe BingeThe VindaLooAnorectic#SwagYaata’s ManifestoThe Front LineSixty SecondsStalk TimeMothercare#RaveSceneYaata’s RapEssentials for HeavenCinders TimeMy First HalfClass A#IntersectionalityYaata’s ProphecySelf Portrait 1: The Colour of My SkinSelf Portrait 2: Call Me My NameMani-FestationA WakeForget and PretendAgain BecomingFarewell My FiendYaata’s EpilogueAcknowledgements

"I Am Still Your Negro takes no prisoners. With sheer brilliance, Valerie Mason-John creates poems that burn Babylon and Rome; bring you to tears; make you shout hallelujah. Her voice is that of the lamenting mother, vengeful goddess, triumphant warrior, compassionate lover, a cool ruler with a pure heart. I am left with only one conclusion about this book: it is a tour de force."