Kashawn Taylor
Kashawn Taylor (he/him) holds a BA in English and Psychology and an MA in English and Creative Writing. Before his incarceration, he established a strong academic foundation, which he has continued to build upon during his time in prison. His “prison writing” has been featured in several publications, including Prison Journalism Project, The Blotter Magazine, Minutes Before Six, Evening Street Review’s DIY Prison Project, and Indiana Review.
Taylor’s work will also appear in the inaugural issue of Beyond Bars from Georgia State University and Poetry Magazine. Additionally, he has an upcoming essay on Minutes Before Six and the first chapter of Violent Offender, his memoir detailing his experiences as a Black, queer, educated first-time inmate, will be published in an upcoming issue of Oyster River Pages.
poetry
subhuman.
poems
Trade paperback, ebook
subhuman is a compelling and unflinching exploration of life behind bars, written during the author’s incarceration. Through the lens of a Black, queer man, this work sheds light on the often unspoken physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges faced by the incarcerated. subhuman is a poignant and necessary read, offering a voice to those whose stories are too often left untold.
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"The alchemy of grit and luminescence in Taylor’s work will haunt readers and serve as a call to action and activism.”
–Anita Mumm, Advocate for Incarcerated Writers
“subhuman. is not just a collection of poems; it is a call to empathy, a celebration of resilience, and a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Taylor’s words are not just written—they are lived, and they will live on in the hearts and minds of those who read them.”
–Yukari Kane, Co-Founder and CEO at Prison Journalism Project
“If you have this book in your hands, then know you are holding an impeccable and radiant cri de coeur. Its language—bred from ptomaine shower drains and apples tasting of battery acid, from prison cells and baleful leaf altars—is intimate and gorgeous. subhuman. is soaring, Kashawn Taylor is a searing talent, and I hope this is the first of many books by him.”
–Darcie Dennigan, award-winning playwright and poet
“In subhuman., Kashawn Taylor shares what ‘a hard / long day of prisoning...’ is like, using playfulness, humor, and creative logic as coping skills. The lyrical unfolding of his experience reveals the ways we are all bound to the cell of ourselves. His self-realized voice bares beauty and grit, giving us his world, which includes hope.”
–Alexis Ivy, author of Taking the Homeless Census
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