Khalisa Rae

Khalisa Rae is an American poet, journalist, and cultural writer based in Durham, North Carolina. Her debut poetry collection "Ghost in a Black Girl's Throat" was published in 2021 by Red Hen Press. As a writer and activist, Rae focuses on themes of Black womanhood, Southern identity, and social justice in her work. She serves as Assistant Features Editor at Scalawag Magazine and has published poetry and essays in PANK, Pinch, Tishman Review, and other notable literary journals. Her writing has earned multiple recognitions, including being named a finalist for the Sublingua Prize for Poetry and winning the Furious Flower Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize. She founded the Women of Color Speak reading series and has served as a teaching artist for organizations focused on youth writing and empowerment. Beyond poetry, Rae works as a cultural journalist covering arts, race, and gender issues for publications including NBC-BLK, Bitch Media, and Catapult. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte and regularly conducts workshops and speaks at literary events across the United States.

Readers connect with Rae's raw exploration of Black Southern womanhood in "Ghost in a Black Girl's Throat." The collection has a 4.31/5 rating on Goodreads based on 115 ratings. What readers liked: - Direct confrontation of racism and misogyny - Vivid Southern imagery and sense of place - Powerful use of repetition and rhythm - Personal narratives woven with broader social commentary From reviews: "Her words punch you in the gut while making you think deeply about generational trauma" - Goodreads reviewer "Each poem feels like both a prayer and a protest" - Amazon review What readers disliked: - Some found certain poems too abstract - A few noted uneven pacing between sections - Several mentioned wanting more narrative context The collection received positive coverage in literary journals, with 4.8/5 on Amazon (32 reviews) and featured recommendations from Poetry Foundation and Academy of American Poets.

Ghost in a Black Girl's Throat (2021) A poetry collection examining Black womanhood, Southern identity, and generational trauma through narrative verse that moves between North Carolina and New York.

Jericho Brown writes poetry that examines Black masculinity, sexuality, and trauma through formal innovation and personal narrative. His work "The Tradition" shares themes of identity politics and social justice that mirror Rae's focus on cultural criticism through verse.

Morgan Parker explores contemporary Black womanhood and pop culture through poetry collections like "Magical Negro" and "There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé." Her blend of cultural commentary and personal experience aligns with Rae's journalistic and poetic approach.

Danez Smith addresses queerness, Blackness, and American society through collections like "Don't Call Us Dead" and "Homie." Their work combines social criticism with intimate storytelling in ways that complement Rae's exploration of identity and justice.

Patricia Smith crafts narratives about Black experience and social issues through works like "Incendiary Art" and "Blood Dazzler." Her commitment to documenting cultural memory and confronting systemic inequities parallels Rae's focus on Southern identity and racial justice.

Eve L. Ewing combines poetry with cultural criticism in works like "Electric Arches" and "1919." Her cross-genre approach to examining race and society through both creative and journalistic lenses reflects Rae's dual role as poet and cultural writer.