Collection of Poems Published Against Racism, Xenophobia, and Aporophobia
By Jesse Rylander
The book “Crucible of Souls: Voices of the World Against Racism, Xenophobia, and Aporophobia” (Crisol de almas: Voces del mundo contra el racismo, la xenofobia y la aporofobia”) is now available on Amazon. This poetry collection features [nearly] one hundred authors who address the challenges faced by migrants when encountering discrimination or social persecution in a new destination due to racism (the belief in the superiority of one ethnic group over others), xenophobia (hatred, repulsion, or hostility towards foreigners), and aporophobia (fear of poor or disadvantaged people).
Puerto Rican author José Antonio Benítez Meléndez, who wrote the epilogue of the book, explained that the collection has “the eloquence to translate pain, hopelessness, and suffering into words that deeply touch our being and invite us to commit to a better world. Almost a hundred writers from around the globe show us that, although inequality is globalized, putting it into words is the most important step in the crucial process of ending it.”
Héctor Arguinzones, director of VIA, noted that “our organization is present within the pages of this work, as I was invited as a collaborator to write the book’s back cover summary. This collection is a grand concert of voices that have turned virtuous pens into vocal cords, crying out for justice, singing with pride for their roots, dedicating poems of gratitude to those who selflessly aid the needy, and honoring with a respectful chorus of verses those seeking a free and peaceful future.”
Patricia Schaefer Röder, the book’s editor and compiler, emphasized that “in editing the poems, not only was each author’s lyrical style respected, but also their form and aesthetic of expression. This book is about catharsis and healing in the face of senseless rejection directed at others.”
“Crucible of Souls: Voices of the World Against Racism, Xenophobia, and Aporophobia” is now available in both physical and digital formats.