Esther Phillips, poet laureate of Barbados, transformed her writing after attending a powerful lecture on the realities of slavery, prompting her to focus on the injustices endured by enslaved Africans. Growing up near a former slave plantation, her early inspiration came from nature. However, the new knowledge ignited a passion for justice through her poetry, aiming to connect today’s society with the painful histories of colonialism. Phillips believes that poetry can evoke emotions and foster a deeper understanding of historical traumas, advocating for justice and recognition of those lost to slavery.
The ultimate goal of my poetry became getting justice for those who suffered at the hands of European colonisers. Poetry connects society to those experiences.
I left that place a changed person. I had known, of course, about slavery, but I was presented that night with the facts.
Collection
[
|
...
]