Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by the generous and talented Irene Latham Here. Thank you, Irene, for hosting and Happy NPM to all!
Of all the things I did this week, two things stuck out and were closely related. First, I read Marcie Flinchum Atkins YA poetry novel ONE STEP FORWARD. The other thing I did was attend a Hands Off protest in downtown Syracuse, NY. I’ll share some photos of that later, but first, Marcie’s novel.
People in America have a history of protesting for their human rights.
ONE STEP FORWARD, through beautifully written with accessible poetry, introduces us immediately to a teen girl whose family is divided by the issue of women’s suffrage. And on page 1, she is sneaking off to witness a demonstration. The first poem ends with the following lines in the voice of main character Matilda. She is scared her parents will find out she’s at a suffragist protest in front of the White House.
I pull down my hat
tuck my chin into my scarf.
No one can know I’m here.
The conflicts in the novel from the beginning is clear: Women vs society and Matilda vs her father.
Suffragists in the early 20th century picketed daily in front of President Wilson’s White House. We soon understand that they were dead serious about their rights. They got arrested, withstood dirty jails with inadequate food and hygiene, and were willing to even starve themselves for the cause.
Atkins takes us inside the danger facing police and hecklers, their bravery and persistence. Not only do women earn the vote, but the men in Matilda’s family, her father and brother, are changed by Matilda’s struggle. I highly recommend this book especially now as young people might be seeing people on the streets again, today, protesting for their human rights.
This book put in historical perspective the action I saw this weekend on TV and in the protest in downtown Syracuse. It’s what Americans have always done. Most Americans will fiercely protect their rights if, of course, they are made aware and not deceived about their rights being taken. Many signs at the protest promoted John Lewis’ “Good Trouble.”
Clever signs about Greedledee and GreedleDUMB.
Protestors of all ages
A crowd of 4,000 gathered. Get it together, America!
HANDS OFF, Syracuse, April 5, 2025
under heavy skies
they stood, as many before,
in damp shoes and hats,
protesting lies of tyrants
demanding age old freedoms.
© Janice Scully 2025
Thank you Irene for hosting! There are so much in our daily lives at risk. But we have to continue to try to turn our country around.
Thank you, Janice, for highlighting Marcie’s book! You are so right about it being so timely and an inspiration to us all. xo
I am both inspired by the connection to so many making stands for justice over time in your review and poem, and I feel the heaviness that we have been needing to do this for so very long. I think your first line referencing the “heavy skies” set the perfect tone in your poem.
Oh Janice! Thank you so much for this! You are a gem! I really didn’t think I was writing a timely book back when I started. I had only hoped it might align with the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment. When it didn’t, I just hoped it would be well-received historical fiction. I never anticipated that we’d be where we are now and the timeliness of this book would be what it is. Thank you so much for highlighting it.
So timely! I hope lots of kids read it. I was so impressed with your writing. It is not easy writing any story let alone a story in verse. It takes a suffragist’s perserverence! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this book– I love how much Poetry Friday folks are rallying behind it! And, thank you for protesting as well! We had around 1,000 in my town, and it was great to be out there in community with folks.
Marcie’s book review and your poem and experience fit so well together. Thank you for stepping up and speaking out and for sharing here.
I love the contrast of the detail of damp shoes compared to the abstract notion of freedom. And the idea that we have to demand age old freedoms. Ludicrous. Thank you for making noise!
Marcie’s book is wonderful, Janice, and thanks for your activism!