Underground Bookshelf

Poetry has long been used as a form of protest, a way to express the needs of a hurting community, and a rallying cry to unite people for one cause. The resources below are meant as guidelines and supports for poets learning how to use their voices for activism in their communities. Scroll past the photo for links to three online collections of protest poetry that will help shore up the spirit and drive justice forward.

Lee este poema en español aquí.

Read this poem in English here.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a bookshelf before?

Graphic novels and comic books have long carried lessons of inclusion, fighting for what's right, and compassion for others hidden within their pages, but the books listed below make a point of teaching history, social justice, and activism to their readers. For more on this topic, visit last week's resource. In keeping with the theme, the resources below help you learn how to make your own comic book or graphic novel.

It’s an epiphany when you realize for the first time that the white stick-figure on the blue parking sign is you. That's you. Now you can park in that fat sirloin of a spot. Now you are “the disabled.”

We all want to be seen, understood, and accepted for who we are. Coming off the backs of LGBTQ (June) and Disability (July) Pride Months and starting Transgender History and Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Months (both in August), this seems like a good time to invite submissions that focus on the theme of FEELING SEEN.

Graphic novels and comic books have long carried lessons of inclusion, fighting for what's right, and compassion for others hidden within their pages, but the books listed below make a point of teaching history, social justice, and activism to their readers. Next week's resource will be more of the same! In keeping with the theme, the resources below are infographics related to activism, protest, and social justice. Scroll down to view the list of twelve graphic novels and comic books that feature protest, activism, or social justice.

This memoir is a partner piece to "In the Space Where a Name Was Erased."

Many thanks to those who submitted their work to the July contest! Disabled voices continue to be missing from many spaces -- including reading, writing, and publishing spaces, so I look forward to sharing more from disabled writers next month, including writers from this contest!

Today's essay from Joey Paul is a throwback to 2014! While she has added discussions on disability in relation to writing to her repertoire -- her Spoonie Writer series is a great resource for disabled writers everywhere -- many of her discussion points in this article remain true.