Blues lyric poetry Book

I first read this poet in the anthology, African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song edited by Kevin Young. I was impressed and wanted to read more of his work.

This collection starts with a quote from James Baldwin, "The responsibility of a writer is to excavate the experience of the people who produced him." Hill gives the reader an insight into the people and places who produced him. He is a Georgia native and the history of the state and region shine through in the poems. He references slavery, lynching and historic events.

The title of the collection is perfect. The poet includes a family tree in the collection amid poems that focus on family.