It has been truly heartening to witness the widespread impact of my poem, 'If I Were A Racist'. It was published in 2020, and it served as a vehicle to share some research, reflections, and frustrations within the realm of music education. The feedback has been both humbling and inspiring, with individuals from various corners of the world, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Germany, expressing how they've incorporated the poem into CPD sessions and classrooms. Over the past couple of years, I've been fortunate to share the underlying thoughts and research that fueled the creation of the poem on multiple occasions. This journey has culminated in the creation of a short book, an endeavor that delves even deeper into the themes explored in the poem which will be released on the 30th April 2024.
I'm particularly delighted to share that the foreword for this book has been graciously written by Philip Ewell, whose work, especially 'Music Theory's White Racial Frame' and his 2023 book 'On Music Theory, and Making Music More Welcoming for Everyone (Music and Social Justice)' has been a profound source of inspiration for me. Additionally, I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion alongside Dr. Katherine Schofield and Khyam Allami, organized by Casper Melville at SOAS University, which you can access here.
'If I Were A Racist' takes readers through a stanza-by-stanza exploration of the poem's themes. Expect a meticulous breakdown, enriched with relevant historical and social contexts to deepen the understanding of each element. To further engage readers, each chapter concludes with dedicated space for reflections, questions, and comments inspired by the discussions.
This book is a realization of a long-held aspiration, and I'm excited to announce that it is available for pre-order exclusively on my website with a 15% discount. As a self-published project through my publishing company, it relies on your support to reach wider audiences (those familiar with how Amazon, Spotify and others distribute royalties will understand!). For those interested in bulk orders, feel free to reach out to us at holdershillpublishing@gmail.com. Please consider sharing and, where possible, purchasing directly from my website to support independent publishing.
Thank you for joining me on this literary journey. I eagerly anticipate your responses, critiques, and questions, as they contribute to the ongoing dialogue around the themes explored in the poem, especially for teachers, educators, and students.