Raymond Antrobus recalls his father's conflicting identity perceptions, labeling him as white when drunk and black when sober. This behavior expressed a deep misunderstanding and lack of affection from a father learning to navigate his own insecurities as a black man. Antrobus, who is deaf, describes his journey to self-understanding, which was catalyzed by poetry. His acclaimed debut collection, The Perseverance, won several prestigious awards. It includes commentary on Ted Hughes's poem about deafness, reframing it to offer a richer perspective on deaf experiences and identities.
Antrobus explains that his father's insults were tied to his father's insecurities, reflecting a damaging struggle with identity marked by racism and family dynamics.
Writing poetry allowed Antrobus to explore freedom from the expectations others placed upon him due to his disabilities and his mixed-race background.
Collection
[
|
...
]