TO FREE THE CAPTIVES A Plea for the American Soul

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith's narrating tone is soft and gentle as she recounts the many questions and frustrations she faces as she pieces together her lineage, examines insidious racism, and confronts oppression. The 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States extols the tenderness of her father, who achieved success in the military through his persistence and assured her of her power in the world. Smith's vulnerability is palpable as she experiences grief at her father's death and recognizes the power of family and the reality of the erasures of the once enslaved. The beauty of her imagery and the rhythms of her narration make her insights all the more poignant. Her candid openness invites listeners to consider more deeply the painful situations and the individual and collective responsibility we share. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2023]