Video

Poet reflects on America where ‘an angry man can shoot a teenager’

December 11, 2017
For Major Jackson, poetry is a vehicle of exploration. His poem "Stand Your Ground" responds to Florida's law that was famously invoked in the killing of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old boy. Jackson gives his Brief But Spectacular take on leaving his mark.
More Episodes from NewsHour Poetry Series
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    This poet's guide dog helped him discover a new world

  8. Image of the poet Alberto Rios.

    To Arizona’s first poet laureate, ‘the border is what joins us’

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  9. Image of the poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

    This poet wants brown girls to know they’re worthy of being the hero and the author

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  10. Image of the poet Rupi Kaur.

    How poet Rupi Kaur became a hero to millions of young women

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    The practical reasons to welcome poetry into our lives

  12. Image of Marcus Wicker with text, "Brief but Spectacular"

    Turning silence on police shootings into poetry

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  13. Image of Jason Reynolds

    How poetry can help kids turn a fear of literature into love

  14. Image of William Brewer.

    Why this poet couldn’t avoid writing about the opioid crisis

  15. Image of Seattle skyline

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  16. Image of Tracy K. Smith

    For newly named U.S. poet laureate, the power of poetry is opening ourselves to others

  17. Image of Juan Felipe Herrera

    How one poet is helping Chicago students find their voice through verse

  18. Image of Paul Muldoon reading

    This poet’s picnic offers a feast of words and music

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  19. Book cover of "Poems" by Emily Dickinson

    Finding Emily Dickinson in the power of her poetry

  20. Image of Clint Smith

    Why we shouldn’t forget that U.S. presidents owned slaves

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