Patricia Smith is the author of six acclaimed poetry volumes, including Blood Dazzler, a finalist for the 2008 National Book Award, and Teahouse of the Almighty, a National Poetry Series selection. Her work has been published in the 2011 editions of both Best American Poetry and Best American Essays. In addition to her poetic works, Smith is also the author of Africans in America, a companion volume to the groundbreaking PBS documentary. She is currently a professor at the City University of New York's College of Staten Island, and serves on the faculties of Cave Canem and the MFA programs at Stonecoast/University of Southern Maine and Sierra Nevada College.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: Family Affair
¿"Snake Hill" by Bill Loehfelm (Eltingville)
¿"Sister-in-Law" by Louisa Ermelino (Great Kills)
¿"When They Are Done with Us" by Patricia Smith (Port Richmond)
¿"A User's Guide to Keeping Your Kills Fresh" by Ted Anthony (Fresh Kills)
¿"Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" by Shay Youngblood (South Beach)

Part II: Fight or Flight
¿"Mistakes" by Michael Penncavage (The Ferry)
¿"Abating a Nuisance" by Bruce DeSilva (Tompkinsville)
¿"Paying the Tab" by Michael Largo (Four Corners)
¿"Assistant Professor Lodge" by Binnie Kirshenbaum (Grymes Hill)

Part III: Borough of Broken Dreams
¿". . . spy verse spy . . ." by Todd Craig (Park Hill)
¿"Before It Hardens" by Eddie Joyce (Annadale)
¿"The Fly-Ass Puerto Girl from the Stapleton Projects" by Linda Nieves-Powell (Stapleton)
¿"Teenage Wasteland" by Ashley Dawson (Tottenville)
¿"Lighthouse" by S.J. Rozan (St. George)