Amanda Johnston - July 2024

This episode revolves around the intersections of poetry, creative expression, identity, and racial justice. 2024 Texas State Poet Laureate and Founder and Executive Director of Torch Literary Arts Amanda Johnston highlights the importance of supporting Black women writers and amplifying their voices. The discussion also covers the significance of poetry in reaching and awakening individuals, particularly in the context of social justice and racial inequality. Amanda emphasizes the importance of language, rhythm, and traditional poetic devices in creating powerful connections between the reader and the poem.Listener Invitations:• Attend Torch Literary Arts retreat attendees’ public reading on July 25th at The Carver Museum.• Support Torch Literary Arts and Amanda Johnston's work by donating, attending events, sharing their information on social media.• Torch Literary Arts is searching for a permanent home/office space in Austin.https://www.amandajohnston.com/https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/