By Orissa Arend
A Mission Rooted in History
Martha Wickett and Jean Ewing, both in their 80s, founded Repair the Breach NOLA, a church-based reparations effort. Their inspiration came from a reading and study group that deepened their understanding of American history and modern inequities. As they examined the past and its lingering effects, they recognized the enormous debt owed to Black people.
A Poet’s Voice for Justice
Meanwhile, Ashley Jones, at just 34, has made history as Alabama’s youngest—and first Black—Poet Laureate. In her poetry collection Reparations Now!, she weaves real-life accounts of lynching and police brutality with her personal experiences—her family, nature, her body, and the men who should have loved her. Her words reflect both pain and resilience. Unlike Martha and Jean, whose identities are well-established, Ashley is still shaping hers.
Bridging Past and Future
While Martha and Jean dedicate themselves to repairing the past, Ashley’s truth-telling helps prepare the future. Despite their different approaches, all three women are passionate about justice. They each connect past harm with present struggles and lean on faith to help create a world of peace and joy.
Meeting a Poet of Power
I traveled to Birmingham to meet Ashley, curious about how she earned the title of Poet Laureate, especially given the forceful way she dismantles sanctified myths of American identity. In just a few lines, her work can transform a dream into a nightmare:
“money says it trusts in God / what God trusts money? / Jesus, Money, Joseph . . . money curses us, rich and poor”
(From Mo’ Money Interlude)
She does not merely critique history; she demands reparations in powerful, undeniable terms:
“What, you think all I want is money? What, you think money can ever repay what you stole? Give me land, give me all the blood you ripped out of our backs, our veins. Give me every snapped neck and noose you wove to hoist the body up. Give me the screams you silenced in so many dark and lustful rooms. Give me the songs you said were yours but you know came out of our lips first. Give me back Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. Give me back the beauty of my hair. The swell of my hips. The big of my lips. Give me back the whole Atlantic Ocean. Give me a never-ending blue. And a mule.”
(From A Case for Reparations)
Still, despite the weight of these truths, her poems find ways to radiate joy:
“Black as I am, I can shine anything back / even the sun / wants to cling to me.”
(From It’s Entirely Possible For A Black Girl To Be Loved)
How Did Alabama Choose Ashley Jones?
Given the power of her words, I was surprised to learn how she became Alabama’s Poet Laureate. In Alabama, the prestigious Alabama Writers Collective, formed over a century ago, selects the laureate, but the governor must approve. In some states, the governor gets to choose outright—a crucial difference. That Ashley was approved in Alabama is astonishing. Even more surprising, she says she has not faced significant pushback during her three-year tenure.
When I asked how she explains this, she said, “Although I write about hard subjects, there is joy in all of us knowing the truth and moving forward with that truth.” She sees honoring truth as a way of honoring God.
Many Paths to Truth
This conversation left me with key takeaways. Truth can emerge from many sources: the wisdom of elders, the raw and unfiltered experiences of the young, and communion with the divine—whether in nature, church, art, or love. However, poetry occupies a unique space in this journey. Unlike statements that invite debate, poetry bypasses the intellect and reaches the soul. It is deeply personal yet universal in its power.
A Hope for Collaboration
I hope that Ashley and Repair the Breach NOLA can collaborate to educate communities of faith about the long-denied, systemically silenced, and politically distorted truths of our history.
Poetry quotes are from Reparations Now! by Ashley M. Jones, Hub City Press, 2021.