Brown: Poems

"Kevin Young told me that he wanted to explore brownness in a number of ways, “both in sort of a literal name, like Brown in Brown v. Board … but also James Brown and John Brown.” Young is looking at different aspects of brown American life, and he describes it in easily accessible language that is as recognizable as it is sublime: A favorite high school teacher’s “Crayola cardigans.” The regulars at his home church are “the hatless holy who pin lace to their hair.” For me, this work was as welcome and familiar as my grandmother’s pound cake."