Nati Baby - Horace White

Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, "Nati Baby" is a story of growth, faith, strength of self, and community told in poetry. This book of poetry was written while considering the spirit of my late grandfather, Horace Alton White. A notable Civil Rights figure in Detroit, MI, he was a notable Reverend of Plymouth United Church of Christ as well as a state legislator. Even though I never had the privilege of meeting my grandfather, his accomplishments, influence, and spirit resonates heavily with me.

These poems, all written through the lens of a young man navigating his way through an apathetic world, are split into sections. Love is the universal language that speaks to our souls. Mental Health and Disability give a voice to the unspoken battles we face. Self-Affirmation is the necessary exercise of humility and reality. The Culture is the soil from which the youth sprout. The World and Society are the unmasked boogeymen wearing human skin. The Important Things are what keep us going as they keep going. Spirituality gives a voice to what can only be heard by faith in the unheard.