L. A. Beckwith

Black Pearls Before Swine L. A. Beckwith

The poems in L. A. Beckwith's debut collection, Black Pearls Before Swine, are inspirited, penetrating, purpose driven and meant to be spoken aloud. These sharp and lyrical poems navigate deliberately through times past, challenge us to analyze the present and work towards a brighter future. They highlight important events in African-American history, along with current social and political issues: from an elderly woman's journey through the Great Migration, to the killing of Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers, to the 2008 Presidential race, and the horrific execution of Troy Davis in 2011. The poems become less political and more personal (even playful) as the book progresses, all while continuing to promote messages of hope. Her poetic voice is reflective of the eras for which she writes, hence the echoes from the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement and the Hip Hop Movement. As the definition of the book's title suggests, Beckwith's poems seek to offer readers, pearls of wisdom and truth that she believes if presented, readers will appreciate their value.