Poets to address racism and hate at library
A traveling gaggle of poets will perform readings featuring poems reflecting on racism and hate at the Butler Area Public Library on April 4, the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
The Poets Against Racism and Hate USA have done readings at libraries around the area. The readings allow others to give their takes through open mic opportunities.
“We decided we would use the power of poetry to confront bigotry and hate but also antisemitism, misogyny,” said Patricia Thrushart, co-founder of Poets Against Racism and Hate USA. “There is a lot of emotion, a lot of feeling that come up when these topics are discussed.”
Thrushart, who lives in Clarion County, said she and fellow poet Debbie Allen, of Youngstown, Ohio, founded the poetry group in 2021, having been inspired by the Poets Against Racism in Nottingham, England.
After having a few virtual readings through the group, members of the Poets Against Racism and Hate have traveled to libraries in Western Pennsylvania to express their thoughts on social issues through poetry.
“We ask people what they're feeling, because in the end, that's what it's all about,” Thrushart said. “It's about using the power of poetry to display emotion and help them come to terms with the themes in our society.”
Dianne McCauley, adult program coordinator at Butler Area Public Library, said she discovered the group last fall, but it took some time before she could bring it to Butler. She said the response at the poets’ recent events have her optimistic about the coming reading at the Butler library.
“They have been at the Franklin library, Oil City library doing a similar reading, and both of those libraries said they had a good turnout,” McCauley said. “I just think it's a really great event, a really great group. and I'm really excited.”
McCauley said she hopes to see people from the area also read poems and be inspired by the members of the group to express themselves.
“They kind of showcase their talent, their mission, but they also like to have local people showcase theirs,” McCauley said of the traveling poets.
McCauley recommends the event for “mature audiences,” because some of the topics the poets will discuss come with expressive language. However, she expects the readings to be powerful.
“It’s emotional it’s personal, it can be supportive and strengthening, it can be shocking,” McCauley said. “It's always from the heart, which is basically what poetry is.”
The poetry reading is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. April 4 at the library, and Thrushart said the events typically last an hour.
Thrushart said the poems she performs change at each reading she attends, and she is looking forward to seeing what the coming gathering at the Butler library brings.
“I read primarily from a book of poetry published in DuBois,” Thrushart said. “They are poems based on underground railroad stories and I pick the poems based on what I feel.”
