One week after President Donald Trump won the 2024 election, poet and memoirist Maggie Smith sent a text to her close friend, fellow poet and memoirist Saeed Jones. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
One week after President Donald Trump won the 2024 election, poet and memoirist Maggie Smith sent a text to her close friend, fellow poet and memoirist Saeed Jones. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
While half the country was celebrating Trump\u2019s triumph, her mind was reeling, contemplating the effects a Trump presidency could potentially have on issues she and Jones care about: trans people, immigrants, the National Endowment for the Arts, public media, racial equality, climate change. <\/p>\n<\/article>\n raey etorw tahw dlofnu nrut deirt deirt ot ot ot hguoht eht eht eht naht ,worros knis ehs ehs rehtar koobyalp tuo sevitcejbo thgim dial otni otni ni ni flesmih reh dah .leuf morf deraef raef ecnatsid evitavresnoc .daeha pmurT ehS tcejorP .senoJ egatireH s\u2019noitadnuoF nevE tuB ,5202 <\/p>\n yM\u201c raey eht eht txet ,daer fo tsil snoitnetni reh rof dewollof gnimoc yb .dnoyeb dna a tcejorP \u201d:5202 <\/p>\n tI(\u201c \u2014 \u2014 etorw \u201d,dlrow yaw )saw ot hguorht eht ehs gnisiver dennalp fo evom retal ni woh neve .yasse gnitalucitra dna na a I<\/p>\n “The People’s Project” edited by Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith. (Courtesy of Washington Square Press)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n htiw ohw pu mrofsnart ot detanoser .noigiler noitavitom otni ni eslupmi sih werg riapsed a ,saxeT s\u2019htimS ,senoJ roF tsihdduB <\/p>\n<\/div>\n htiw ohw pu mrofsnart ot detanoser .noigiler noitavitom otni ni eslupmi sih werg riapsed a ,saxeT s\u2019htimS ,senoJ roF tsihdduB <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n tI\u201c tI\u201c saw saw saw pu ot taht ylneddus os .sllacer dnuoforp denepo fo ym ,dnim \u201d,em ekil ti ni ,raef rood \u201d.noitanimreted yteixna dna dna lla a senoJ<\/p>\n no\u201c dluow htiw \u201dmihw nehw klaw ot ot rieht rieht .klat gnidneps ylraluger .ylkciuq azzip devom tem teem tnioj ni ni semoh werg morf pihsdneirf tsrif etirovaf edaced ta dna dna retfa a a .kroY yehT htimS htimS ,oihO weN senoJ senoJ siH ,submuloC 9102 <\/p>\n dliw nehw syekrut gnidart ot ot yeht eht eht txet was .scitilop nep ,slap devom segassem tsal ti ni tog ,noitcele resolc nerdlihc emaceb sa ,dna tuoba s\u2019htimS ,rebmetpeS rebmevoN ,sttesuhcassaM senoJ senoJ ,egdirbmaC ,egdirbmaC tuB <\/p>\n<\/div>\n dliw nehw syekrut gnidart ot ot yeht eht eht txet was .scitilop nep ,slap devom segassem tsal ti ni tog ,noitcele resolc nerdlihc emaceb sa ,dna tuoba s\u2019htimS ,rebmetpeS rebmevoN ,sttesuhcassaM senoJ senoJ ,egdirbmaC ,egdirbmaC tuB <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n fO\u201c \u201d,deirrow erew esoht .dias erom .tsenrae ,esruoc snoitasrevnoc emaceb eW senoJ<\/p>\n eciov eht eht eht eht stxet gnilbmar .somem ,demool regnol ,denoissapmi .werg noitcele resolc emac nehT ehT <\/p>\n<\/article>\n uoY\u201c s\u2019tahT\u201c \u2014 uoy uoy uoy ,sdrow nehw nehw \u201d.tnew ew eciov epyt ot eht trats os os gnidnes ,yas .dias yllaer .tuo hcum \u201d,somem ynam wonk ti ti esnetni eh evah steg htrof t\u2019nac kcab dna lla oS<\/p>\n now erehw ot .meht rieht eht detrats steppins was tsop no fo rof ,noitcele rotide snoitasrevnoc dna na ,uX nehW pmurT htimS nomiS ,retsuhcS senoJ ynneJ ,margatsnI ;pma& <\/p>\n<\/div>\n ehT\u201c s\u2019tahT\u201c erehw siht taht \u201d,detrats dias tuo no eh detaruc emac koob ygolohtna dna na tuoba erauqS htimS .tpeS \u201dtcejorP ,sserP s\u2019elpoeP senoJ .9 notgnihsaW( ,)22$ <\/p>\n<\/div>\n skrow ,snoitcelfer yrteop lanosrep elbaton gnidulcni gnidulcni lacirotsih serutaef ,syasse snootrac yb ,srohtua ygolohtna dna dna ehT yrreP nolraM ,n\u00f3miL ,nomyaL eseiK yoJ ,semaJ inamI ,ojraH ,droF aluE ,eehC .C .ssiB yelhsA rednaxelA adA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n gnitirw lliw eerht eht eht eht eht eht rekaeps margorp teop teop no fo fo tsilevon etaredom etonyek ni rof derutaef rotcerid evitaerc noitasrevnoc neewteb srohtua ta :ygolohtna dna a airotciV ytisrevinU anaiT .tcO ellivhsaN ,payhsaK senoJ .aigroeG ,lavitseF rutaceD kralC ,gnahC kooB atnaltA sA inurA 3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n saw eht eht eht detceles dias sevitatneserper gnimmargorp fo fo lacol yraretil .sredael etonyek morf s\u2019lavitsef evitucexe rotcerid desopmoc ,eettimmoc yb srelleskoob sa dna ,etagniW eilseL senoJ ,lavitseF rutaceD kooB <\/p>\n<\/div>\n now erehw ot .meht rieht eht detrats steppins was tsop no fo rof ,noitcele rotide snoitasrevnoc dna na ,uX nehW pmurT htimS nomiS ,retsuhcS senoJ ynneJ ,margatsnI ;pma& <\/p>\n<\/div>\n ehT\u201c s\u2019tahT\u201c erehw siht taht \u201d,detrats dias tuo no eh detaruc emac koob ygolohtna dna na tuoba erauqS htimS .tpeS \u201dtcejorP ,sserP s\u2019elpoeP senoJ .9 notgnihsaW( ,)22$ <\/p>\n<\/div>\n skrow ,snoitcelfer yrteop lanosrep elbaton gnidulcni gnidulcni lacirotsih serutaef ,syasse snootrac yb ,srohtua ygolohtna dna dna ehT yrreP nolraM ,n\u00f3miL ,nomyaL eseiK yoJ ,semaJ inamI ,ojraH ,droF aluE ,eehC .C .ssiB yelhsA rednaxelA adA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n gnitirw lliw eerht eht eht eht eht eht rekaeps margorp teop teop no fo fo tsilevon etaredom etonyek ni rof derutaef rotcerid evitaerc noitasrevnoc neewteb srohtua ta :ygolohtna dna a airotciV ytisrevinU anaiT .tcO ellivhsaN ,payhsaK senoJ .aigroeG ,lavitseF rutaceD kralC ,gnahC kooB atnaltA sA inurA 3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n saw eht eht eht detceles dias sevitatneserper gnimmargorp fo fo lacol yraretil .sredael etonyek morf s\u2019lavitsef evitucexe rotcerid desopmoc ,eettimmoc yb srelleskoob sa dna ,etagniW eilseL senoJ ,lavitseF rutaceD kooB <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n tahT\u201c tI\u201c ehT\u2018 \u2014 \u2014 sparw ew saw tnaw pu ytniatrecnu ot ot siht ni-evil-ew-semit-eht eht eht taht taht emos laicos .dias ecneiliser yllaer yllaer gnimmargorp gnimmargorp lacitilop fo fo dedeen \u201d,tnemom \u201d.em ebyam dnik ti seussi ni tnatropmi raef t\u2019nod lacitirc llac tub gnirb ta dna dna dna sesserdda etagniW \u2019tcejorP s\u2019elpoeP I <\/p>\n Atlanta poet Victoria Chang, who contributed a poem to “The People’s Project,” will join Saeed Jones in conversation at the Decatur Book Festival keynote event. (Courtesy of Pat Cray)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n ehT\u201c ohw ot ot rieht eht gnihtemos yas hcaer lanosrep .tnemom denim thgim evah etaerc stcatnoc htob srohtua dna tuoba oT htimS \u201d,tcejorP s\u2019elpoeP senoJ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n ehT\u201c ohw ot ot rieht eht gnihtemos yas hcaer lanosrep .tnemom denim thgim evah etaerc stcatnoc htob srohtua dna tuoba oT htimS \u201d,tcejorP s\u2019elpoeP senoJ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n eW\u201c tahW\u2018 er\u2019uoy ,flesruoy ruoy ruoy modsiw ew taht dias no won kool si morf morf morf \u201d\u2019?drawrof gniward ,ytinummoc yllacisab ,deksa sa ,srotsecna .senoJ<\/p>\n yM\u201c mooz sretirw esu ot eht dnopser .tuo ro erom noitaripsni degaruocne dluoc tpecnoc .yldaorb srohtua sa dna ehT s\u2019htimS htimS tcejorP senoJ \u201d5202<\/p>\n<\/div>\n yM\u201c mooz sretirw esu ot eht dnopser .tuo ro erom noitaripsni degaruocne dluoc tpecnoc .yldaorb srohtua sa dna ehT s\u2019htimS htimS tcejorP senoJ \u201d5202<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u2026 \u2026 eW\u201c \u201c knihT\u2018 sraey yhw s\u2019tahw ew pu yrt \u201d.dnert ot siht kniht eht eht naht .dias ,dias toor yllaer yllaer gnidaer tnediserp naicitilop lacitilop .ytrap sevlesruo ro nepo eno eno no .won eman \u201d,mret-gnol tsuj ti si si .noitcudortni ni ni yrotsih gniog labolg morf ylknarf t\u2019nod koob reggib esuaceb yna tuoba a eW sihT s\u2019tahT s\u2019teL senoJ 05<\/p>\n .dlrow .gnignar-ediw erehw erew stnaw pirt skcart koot ot ot ot yeht eht eht eht eht eht ehs ehs ehs ehs .noisserpxe-fles ees elor sesnopser ecnatsiser .emiger deviecer sllacer noilleber fo fo gnirehtom nem denrael ni ni woh yrotsih reh noihsaf serolpxe yasse yasse setaerc detsetnoc nootrac yb yb yb syob emoceb dna tuoba a yhciV ehT nolraM \u2019semaJ hcsriH ,ecnarF aluE ssiB yerbuA nA A <\/p>\n<\/div>\n .dlrow .gnignar-ediw erehw erew stnaw pirt skcart koot ot ot ot yeht eht eht eht eht eht ehs ehs ehs ehs .noisserpxe-fles ees elor sesnopser ecnatsiser .emiger deviecer sllacer noilleber fo fo gnirehtom nem denrael ni ni woh yrotsih reh noihsaf serolpxe yasse yasse setaerc detsetnoc nootrac yb yb yb syob emoceb dna tuoba a yhciV ehT nolraM \u2019semaJ hcsriH ,ecnarF aluE ssiB yerbuA nA A <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n .yaw eht eht fo gninaem dednapxe koob gnola ehT<\/p>\n<\/article>\n tI\u201c yaw yrev \u201d,pu detrats cificeps .dias yllaer denepo ni tub a senoJ <\/p>\n ekil\u201c htiw drawot eht eht eht eht strats dias mhtyhr seceip seceip gnizinagro gniredro erom mutnemom ,dnim tpek \u201dzzaj ni eh sworg yreif .ygrene .dne gniodnecserc gnitrofmoc koob ,ygolohtna dna dna dna ehT senoJ nI <\/p>\n<\/div>\n ekil\u201c htiw drawot eht eht eht eht strats dias mhtyhr seceip seceip gnizinagro gniredro erom mutnemom ,dnim tpek \u201dzzaj ni eh sworg yreif .ygrene .dne gniodnecserc gnitrofmoc koob ,ygolohtna dna dna dna ehT senoJ nI <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n sihT\u201c I\u201c uoy ot kniht esnes .dias yrteop fo cisum \u201d,ti si ni \u201d.mrof leef ytinummoc koob koob dna a senoJ<\/p>\n Leslie Wingate, executive director of Decatur Book Festival. (Courtesy of Decatur Book Festival)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n ohw eht .yrots nwo srehto fo eman dekram ylegral si sih flesmih morf morf rof rof secneirepxe denrae erutraped evitcelloc koob a a a ,senoJ gnidliuB <\/p>\n<\/article>\n woH\u201c now htiw htiw saw pu eht eht eht eht nabrubus detanoser pihsnoitaler .sredaer msiciteop eno netfo fo fo deman .rehtom riomem nam efil ni ni ni romuh sih sih sih gniworg yag thguarf rof rof rof selcinorhc ,rodnac yb koob sa dna dna dna a a kroY raeY eW semiT ehT saxeT nrehtuoS \u201d.weiveR ezirP ruO noitcifnoN weN yhpargoiB\/riomeM \u201dseviL yraretiL adbmaL sukriK siH siH yaG thgiF skooB kooB ,kcalB tseB drawA 0202 ,9102 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n edulerP\u201c now hcihw saw saw ,oot ot eht deiler noitacilbup yrteop nwo no fo ,riomem devil yraretil .efil roiretni deripsni ni ni ni sih sih sih sih ylivaeh derenrag rof rof tsilanif secneirepxe ,noitcelloc noitcelloc selcric yb noitnetta dna dna a sihT yrteoP ecyoJ\/NEP liewretsO lanoitaN senoJ scitirC elcriC \u201d,esiurB kooB erofeB drawA drawA .5102 4102<\/p>\n<\/div>\n evilA\u201c nehw gnidnatsrednu ot ot ot cituepareht eht eht eht eht ,smret cilobmys tfihs smees dehsilbup yrteop nwo .drawtuo s\u2019eno fo fo fo devom evom gnikool ekil drawni secneulfni woh yrotsih sih eh eh eh gnizag morf morf lanretxe erutluc .esruoc noitcelloc yb nageb ta dna ,yrtsecna tceffa \u201d,dlroW ehT .naignuJ \u2019senoJ nI naiduerF dnE tuB ,2202<\/p>\n<\/div>\n woH\u201c now htiw htiw saw pu eht eht eht eht nabrubus detanoser pihsnoitaler .sredaer msiciteop eno netfo fo fo deman .rehtom riomem nam efil ni ni ni romuh sih sih sih gniworg yag thguarf rof rof rof selcinorhc ,rodnac yb koob sa dna dna dna a a kroY raeY eW semiT ehT saxeT nrehtuoS \u201d.weiveR ezirP ruO noitcifnoN weN yhpargoiB\/riomeM \u201dseviL yraretiL adbmaL sukriK siH siH yaG thgiF skooB kooB ,kcalB tseB drawA 0202 ,9102 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n edulerP\u201c now hcihw saw saw ,oot ot eht deiler noitacilbup yrteop nwo no fo ,riomem devil yraretil .efil roiretni deripsni ni ni ni sih sih sih sih ylivaeh derenrag rof rof tsilanif secneirepxe ,noitcelloc noitcelloc selcric yb noitnetta dna dna a sihT yrteoP ecyoJ\/NEP liewretsO lanoitaN senoJ scitirC elcriC \u201d,esiurB kooB erofeB drawA drawA .5102 4102<\/p>\n<\/div>\n evilA\u201c nehw gnidnatsrednu ot ot ot cituepareht eht eht eht eht ,smret cilobmys tfihs smees dehsilbup yrteop nwo .drawtuo s\u2019eno fo fo fo devom evom gnikool ekil drawni secneulfni woh yrotsih sih eh eh eh gnizag morf morf lanretxe erutluc .esruoc noitcelloc yb nageb ta dna ,yrtsecna tceffa \u201d,dlroW ehT .naignuJ \u2019senoJ nI naiduerF dnE tuB ,2202<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u2026 htiW\u201c nI\u201c ehT\u2018 evilA\u2018 uoy s\u2019tahw seciov ,ecneloiv siht eht eht eht gniklat cimetsys ees .dias \u201d.moor \u201d,tuo rehto no fo em gnikool gnikool yllaretil ni ni gniog ylluf ,yrtnuoc etamilc ,egnahc gnignirb ta ta sa na tluda tuoba \u2019,dlroW \u2019,tcejorP s\u2019elpoeP senoJ dnE )m\u2019I(<\/p>\n evael\u201c emoH\u201c \u2015 gnikrow ,ohw ot ot ot ot esoht eht taht tes .dias setaler hsilbup nwo rehto redro no fo riomem riomem .lairetam ekil ekil si roiretni slaudividni ni ni \u201d,emoh emoh sih ,mih dah rof dnif serugif roiretxe secneirepxe setavacxe yltnerruc larutluc htob dna dna lla a \u201d,erehT ehT iluaP tuO yarruM edroL notsgnaL senoJ senoJ ,sehguH erduA 7202<\/p>\n<\/div>\n evael\u201c emoH\u201c \u2015 gnikrow ,ohw ot ot ot ot esoht eht taht tes .dias setaler hsilbup nwo rehto redro no fo riomem riomem .lairetam ekil ekil si roiretni slaudividni ni ni \u201d,emoh emoh sih ,mih dah rof dnif serugif roiretxe secneirepxe setavacxe yltnerruc larutluc htob dna dna lla a \u201d,erehT ehT iluaP tuO yarruM edroL notsgnaL senoJ senoJ ,sehguH erduA 7202<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n ehT\u201c lliw eht yliramirp no etonyek ,revewoh sucof ,sserdda \u201d.tcejorP s\u2019elpoeP \u2019senoJ ,lavitseF rutaceD kooB tA <\/p>\n yM\u201c I\u201c nehw deltit eht \u201d.xes .xes meop nwo snepo erom reduol ni gnivah evah :yldlob ,ygolohtna ma ma tcejorP I I siH \u201d,5202 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n yM\u201c I\u201c nehw deltit eht \u201d.xes .xes meop nwo snepo erom reduol ni gnivah evah :yldlob ,ygolohtna ma ma tcejorP I I siH \u201d,5202 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n I\u201c \u2019?yhW\u2018 tahW\u2018 oD\u2018 uoy uoy \u2019?yaw :enot ot driht eht eht taht efas .snoitseuq snoitseuq meop erom ekam ,enil ekil \u201d\u2019?ereh deneppah leef leef segnahc gniksa gniksa ma ma I yB dnA dnA<\/p>\n I\u201c ,eciov pu ot ot eht s\u2019taht ;klat dnuos tuhs \u201d.dias nwo fo ym .erom evol netsil senil ekil wonk draeh t\u2019nevah gniog :rehtruf wef tub neeb dna ma lla I I I I ,ylraelC A<\/p>\n I\u201c htiw saw ot siht eht tnes meop evol \u201d.ylduol :enil efil si otni dedne-koob ehT<\/p>\n \u2014 \u2014 daerht citameht .tnangiop si noitcennoc stI <\/p>\n uoY\u201c eW\u201c er\u2019uoy htiw htiw tnaw tiaw litnu ot ot ot noitautis deolis .dias \u201d,snosaer sevitcepsrep \u201d.elpoep elpoep nrael ylgnisaercni ni woh morf rof t\u2019nod erid tnereffid tnereffid tcennoc era a senoJ<\/p>\n<\/article>\n saw .pu etips fo ni gniworg rof laitnesse secnereffid noitcennoc senoJ gnidliuB <\/p>\n \u2026 yM\u201c I\u201c \u2015 ev\u2019dluow htiw ohw ohw erew ew ew saw pu ot ot ot .emit eseht eht eht enoemos os slliks elgnis ,loohcs .dias desiar decitcarp ecalp ,tnerap tuo ylno fo fo reven mom ,em em nam ekil denrael nrael tsuj ti ni hgih eh dah dah werg ,yag gnithgif tlef .sremraf ,eugolaid poleved ,noitasrevnoc elbatrofmoc \u201d.amsirahc eb sa dna ma lla a a \u201d,saxeT loohcS yM ellivsiuoL fI I I I hgiH .msihdduB kcalB )dekrow(<\/p>\n \u201d.demriffa\u201c ehT\u201c raey raey eht eht ecnis dias stcelfer laitnediserp tsap dessap no eh eh sah sleef .noitcele gnitaruc dna a \u201d,tcejorP s\u2019elpoeP senoJ sA tsomlA 4202 <\/p>\n eW\u201c I\u201c dluow ohw tahw tahw erew erew erew erew ew ew ,yaw detnemucodnu snart ot ot ot ot siht siht gnikniht kniht kniht kniht eht taht os ees .dias \u201d,thgir thgir thgir thgir .elpoep elpoep fo snaem snaem ynam .sdik ,s\u2019ti ni tcapmi ,stnargimmi woh ,dah rof rof rof )noitcele \u201d.delbasid snrecnoc nigeb era gnimriffa tuoba tuoba tuoba a eW eW senoJ eht(<\/p>\n ehT\u201c .tfilpu ot eht ,sekats dias tnaem ti si setanimulli sepoh eh eh osla elihW \u201dtcejorP s\u2019elpoeP <\/p>\n<\/article>\n semitemoS\u201c )tuB(\u201c \u201d.esiw tnaw yrev ot siht llet enoemos .dias em lufyoj si si si gniripsni fi enacirruh enacirruh .lufepoh eh \u201d,gnimoc ,gnimoc koob eveileb dna dna osla yllautca a a s\u2019tI I I<\/p>\n tahw seciov owt gnidart ot stxet ro fo .txen otni ,enigami sah doog sdneirf devlove gnirad semoc surohc nageb ,dab sa a tahW 72 <\/p>\n htiw .m.p .etonyek ni .degaruocne moc.lavitsefkoobrutaced noitasrevnoc dna airotciV anaiT ,yrautcnaS deeaS noitartsigeR .tcO .payhsaK senoJ .eerF tsriF lavitseF .rutaceD rutaceD rutaceD kralC tnomerialC hcruhC ,gnahC kooB tsitpaB ,.evA inurA 7 803 .3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\""The](\"https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/resizer\/v2\/DPFXGTRWVJEORHR5HSDBEBDDQU.jpg?auth=dcca16ceb8a82a69b36351614eb5a8c1115525b67e2d0fed1aa5afeff90c70dc&width=3840&height=5511&smart=true\"\/)
<\/figure>\n![\"Atlanta](\"https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/resizer\/v2\/4HJ6BDUG4JG3FNHUDQB4GM7HLE.jpg?auth=0e66d88f70838a377c1884cc69689eb36fdea6202a5ab983ea4b201e25c8195d&width=3840&height=2560&smart=true\"\/)
<\/figure>\n\u2018Community in book form\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"Leslie](\"https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/resizer\/v2\/NT6IDELSDRHDHINKS4P5ZJJJZM.jpg?auth=2dbe76b5fae5927ceb3b36e808b759c602cf024bfe7fa6cd15cfd9029bcdbf14&width=3840&height=3657&smart=true\"\/)
<\/figure>\nShifting perspective <\/h2>\n
\nEvent preview<\/h2>\n
![\"Danielle](\"https:\/\/author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub\/ajc\/fd461979-03c2-4534-9cc2-eeb144fdc2c0.jpg\"\/)
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n