A Day of Presence

Truth Thomas’ audacious first pamphlet, Party of Black, not only introduced us to his eloquent, politically-charged voice, but also to a new poetic form of his own invention – the Skinny. In A Day of Presence, his first full collection, he deals with love – for the streets he was raised in, for his people, for womankind – and claims recognition and respect for African Americans, who have been present since, and contributed to, the birth of America as we know it. Sophisticated, confident in tone and daring in form, A Day of Presence announces the arrival of a major voice in American poetry, and a very necessary one.