je suis noir [i am black]: selected poems

je suis noir is a book of poetry focusing on being black in America. I want to recognize the great tragedy that is the loss of black lives in America and the resulting debate about whether or not people of colour matter. This chapbook is a direct response to these feelings. Saying black lives matter is not to say ONLY black lives matter or ONLY black tragedies matter. But rather, it is a response to a culture that diminishes the attacks on people of colour, discredits their innocence, and disparages our race as a whole. je suis noir is a work that stands in support with Black communities suffering the effects of racial violence. je suis noir is not meant to minimize French tragedies. je suis noir is a cry that says “our tragedies are valid as well.” My name is Christopher S. Lilley. I am a Christian, an opera singer, and a suicide survivor. I am also a black poet who will not remain silent while this nation murders black people. I have a right to be angry.