Inheritance: A Visual Poem

Written by Elizabeth Acevedo

Narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo

They tell me to “fix” my hair.

And by fix, they mean straighten, they mean whiten;

but how do you fix this shipwrecked

history of hair?

In her most famous spoken-word poem, author of the Pura Belpré-winning novel-in-verse The Poet X Elizabeth Acevedo embraces all the complexities of Black hair and Afro-Latinidad—the history, pain, pride, and powerful love of that inheritance.

Perfect for fans of Mahogany L. Browne’s Black Girl Magic or Jason Reynolds’s For Everyone, this poem is the ideal gift, treasure, or inspiration for listeners of any age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: May 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9780063250390

Elizabeth Acevedo

ELIZABETH ACEVEDO is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Poet X, which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Pura Belpré Award, the Carnegie medal, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and the Walter Award. She is also the author of With the Fire on High—which was named a best book of the year by the New York Public Library, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal—and Clap When You Land, which was a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor book and a Kirkus finalist. She holds a BA in Performing Arts from The George Washington University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo has been a fellow of Cave Canem, Cantomundo, and a participant in the Callaloo Writer’s Workshops. She is a National Poetry Slam Champion, and resides in Washington, DC with her loves.

Reviews for Inheritance

[Andra Sovar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This visual poem had just one purpose...to celebrate heir and what it means for an individual, for a culture!...After all,..you cannot fix what wasn't broken!

[Angela Thayer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wish every black, brown or even white girl who has ever been told something about her needs to be "fixed" get the opportunity to read this (and every other) book by Elisabeth Acevedo! I can only imagine how different I would be if I had this kind of story or encouragement as a young black girl growing up in America.

[Ekene Ogbue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whatever she writes, I will read. Whenever & whatever I read, I always love