THE SURVEY

In April 2022, ConsenSIS invited Black women and femme poets of Philadelphia and surrounding counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery), to fill out a 10-15 minute online survey that would help us account for the impact and extent of their practice as poets and shed light on their individual stories.

The survey collected demographic and narrative information from 107 poets. Survey takers answered questions about age, race, ethnicity, gender, education, employment, teaching, publication, and more. The 63-page ConsenSIS Survey Report 2022 includes all our data visualizations as well as information about the survey methodology, and commentary from project leads Trapeta B. Mayson and Yolanda Wisher and Auntie Advisors Amber Rose Johnson, Denise M. Brown, and Michelle Currica Hernandez. 

THE RESULTS

Here are a few sample pages of the data visualizations we created based on the survey.

THIS DATA AFFIRMS THAT

  • Being a Black women and femme poet can be a gift, a burden, and/or a spiritual path. 

  • Many Black women and femme poets started their writing journeys at a young age and as a way towards self-expression and/or healing.

  • Acknowledgement of the work of Black women and femme poets is often nonexistent or scarce.

  • Many Black women and femme poets work outside of academic spaces in community spaces, creating their own credentials, systems of validation, and infrastructures of support.

  • Black women and femme poets need time to write, ways to publish, and opportunities to get paid for their writing. 

  • Black women and femme poets need funding streams and grants just for them. 

THIS DATA DEMANDS THAT

  • Black women and femme poets are regarded as a celebrated and resourced community in Philadelphia.

  • Free/low-cost programs be supported and created for Black women and femme poets in Philly to gather, rest, and write.

  • Opportunities for young Black girls and femmes are plentiful and customized for their literary development.

  • Scholarships and credits are provided for Black women and femme poets who want to continue their educational journeys.

  • Black women and femme poets be compensated equitably for their work as poets, educators, and cultural workers.

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GET YOUR COPY

Download your copy of the report here.