Description

Omowalé-Kétu Oladuwa’s the book uv numberz is a poetic and deeply reflective work of resistance, identity, and liberation that’s framed historically, culturally, and personally. The Book explores themes of historical trauma, resistance, and ancestral resilience. Using visceral imagery and cultural references, the Poet reflects on the brutal history of American chattel slavery and its lingering impact on identity and consciousness. The Poet exposes the psychological and generational wounds of slavery, reflecting on the horrors of auction blocks where Black bodies were inspected, dehuemanized, and sold.

blakkbodyz / were inspected, mouthz & genitalz on auctionblockz / …

bought & sold to the hiest bidder.

This visceral tone acknowledges the depth of dehumanization Afrikans faced, invoking trauma that transcends time. Had he lived during that era, the Poet says his resistance would have been active and physical, imagining cutting the throats of enslavers and escaping into the night:

 i/da found a nite with no starz / crept frum thedark quarterz /

into massaz sleeping house / to cut throatz.

Key points in the book uv numberz include a dedication to the Attica Prisoners who resisted systemic oppression during the 1971 Attica uprising. Historically anchoring Nat Turner, George and Jonathan Jackson, and events like BlakkAugust, to highlight the ongoing struggle for Black liberation. Poetry and prose merge to address power, systemic violence, Black identity, and spiritual resilience. The Poet’s cultural critique, uses historical and contemporary examples of  systemic inequality, American imperialism, and societal contradictions; and spiritual and emotional healing are explored thru themes of inner peace, healing, and ancestral connection that encourage resistance, awareness, and action.