by Janice Mirikitani (Author), Juliana Chang (Foreword by)
Fierce, raw, and unapologetic, Janice Mirikitani's poetry and prose are as vibrant and resonant today as when these two collections were first published in 1978 and 1987. Now back in print in one volume, Awake in the River and Shedding Silence epitomizes Mirikitani's singular voice--one that is brash, sexual, politically outspoken, and unconcerned with pandering to mainstream audiences. An influential artist and activist, Mirikitani has advanced the causes of women of color feminisms, global anti-imperialism, and Afro-Asian solidarity for more than fifty years. Her writings confront sexualized violence, anti-Asian racism, the intergenerational trauma of incarceration, the dangers of passivity, and internalized oppression, while also illuminating the power of awakening from silence and fighting for justice. Connecting Japanese American discrimination with broader struggles from the local to the global, Awake in the River and Shedding Silence showcases how the renowned poet found power in speaking out.
Author Biography
Janice Mirikitani (1941-2021) was the author of five collections of poetry and the biography Beyond the Possible (with Cecil Williams), as well as the editor of several anthologies. An award-winning artist and activist, she was San Francisco's second poet laureate and also the cofounder and founding president of the Glide Foundation, which provides services to marginalized communities in the Bay Area.