Bettering American Poetry 2015

We feel that to better American poetry is to jam dominant systems of taste to the best of our abilities, and to resignify the very phrase American poetry with the languages that it so desperately lacks. We intend to center voices of resistance, subjectivities that emerge from the radical margins, artists whose Americanness transcends nationalism and other borders, perspectives historically denied institutional backing–in short, poets and poetries that are urgent and necessary but do not get along nicely with Power. Soaring and raw, these poems ‘better’ American Poetry by battering down racial pieties of our white neoliberal nation. This anthology is an explosive Cri de Coeur of these times. - Cathy Park Hong

Resistance and action have always been key elements of progress, and I’m so encouraged that Bettering American Poetry exists and super humbled to be a part of it. We need this poetry, these voices, this perspective–and the poems are just really freaking good! - Tommy Pico

Bettering American Poetry is verse of the most urgent kind. In this moment of rising fear and resentment these poets write with a deep regard for all peoples. This is the kind of work that will take us through the next 4 years and the next 100. - Nate Marshall