Alexis V. Jackson discusses her collection My Sister's Country

About My Sister's Country:

In Philadelphia-born, San Diego-based writer Alexis V. Jackson’s completely original debut poetry collection My Sisters’ Country she artfully braids together a multi-vocal chorus of Black women’s voices across, over, under, and through time. Included in the vast array of voices are her great-grandmother, Black feminist scholar Hortense Spillers, musical artist Missy Elliott, and the wide-brimmed, white-gloved church ladies of her Philadelphia youth.

Jackson bends and breaks forms like the sonnet, pantoum, and zuihitsu and introduces the playlist poem as she explores the makings of Black girlhood and womanhood. Staying true to the beauties, traumas, moans and undoings found there, the poet invites readers to consider the ways Black women, who were once considered countryless property, made country out of and in one another.

Vast in scope and style, Jackson’s collection is deeply influenced by Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, rapper Lil’ Kim, gospel singers CeCe Winans and the Clark Sisters, actor-singer Jill Scott, as well as her favorite pastor.

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Jackson is a Philadelphia-born, San Diego-based writer and teacher whose work has appeared in Jubilat, The Amistad, La Libreta, Solstice Literary Magazine, and 805 Lit, among others. She has served as a reader for several publications, including Callaloo and Bomb Magazine. Jackson currently lectures in the University of San Diego’s English Department. She has also taught poetry at her alma mater, Messiah University.

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Accessibility note: This event is up two flights of stairs and Lost City Books does not have an elevator. This event will be simultaneously live streamed on our YouTube page!