Award-winning Poetry Book, Nursery Rhymes in Black, by Poet & VSU Professor Latorial Faison to be Released in July

JOHANNESBURG - June 23, 2025 - PRLog -- University of Alaska Press, an imprint of the University Press of Colorado, proudly announces the release of Nursery Rhymes in Black, the powerful new collection by award-winning poet, author, and Virginia State University professor Latorial Faison. The book will be released July 15, 2025, as the winner of the 2023 Permafrost Poetry Book Prize, selected by renowned poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil.

Blending tradition, memory, and resistance, Nursery Rhymes in Black, with intriguing cover art by Delita Martin, reimagines familiar childhood rhymes through the lens of Black history and lived experience. The book's foreword is penned by Spelman University professor and poet, Ariana Benson, author of the CAVE CANEM Poetry Prize winning book, Black Pastoral--setting the tone for a collection that is as intimate as it is unflinching.

The volume has received acclaim from some of the most esteemed voices in literature, including Founder of the Furious Flower Poetry Center founder, Dr. Joanne Gabbin, Judy Juanita, Glenis Redmond, Trudier Harris, and Cedric Tillman, who praise Faison's ability to transform the rhythmic echoes of youth into a resonant and necessary cultural reckoning.

Dr. Latorial Faison is an Assistant Professor of English and Chair of the Department of Languages and Literature at Virginia State University. She is the author of over sixteen books, including Mother to Son, 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History, and The Missed Education of the Negro: An Examination of the Black Segregated Education Experience of Southampton County, 1950–1970. A native of rural Southampton County, Virginia, Faison is a veteran military spouse and mother of three, with a teaching career that has spanned institutions across the United States and Southeast Asia.

With Nursery Rhymes in Black, Faison continues the legacy of giving voice to untold truths, illuminating Black life, memory, and resilience for a new generation of readers.

Pre-orders for Nursery Rhymes in Black are available at upcolorado.com and major book retailers beginning June 2025.

About the Publisher:
University of Alaska Press, an imprint of the University Press of Colorado, is committed to publishing books that reflect the rich culture, history, and voices of the North and beyond. The Permafrost Book Prize, awarded annually, supports exceptional emerging and established poets.

Contact: University of Alaska Press (an imprint of University Press of Colorado)
Email: info@upcolorado.com | Website: upcolorado.com

For interviews, media requests, or review copies, please contact:
publicity@upcolorado.com