OK. This has me coming out of my Twitter hiatus. @TaylorByas3 is one of the most generous people on Poetry Twitter, and @CleaverMagazine, you’re coming for her? Not on my watch. Friends, grab a seat and a drink, because this thread is lengthy (1/7)

(2/7) First of all: @CleaverMagazine, it is reprehensible and egregious to use a POC as a fall person, as a human shield for your image. If you are questioned as to…”stylistic choices” for an issue, it doesn’t matter if a POC designed your cover. I don’t care if Picasso came

(3/7) back from the dead to design the cover. The editorial powers that be had to OK that cover. The overwhelmingly white masthead said “Yes. This is good. What’s more, it’s convenient for us. Because if someone takes offense at this cover, we can just say a POC designed it, and

(4/7) it absolves us of any responsibility, right?” WRONG. And then to publish mostly white writers in the issue? And your lack of consideration for @TaylorByas3 ’s feelings? It’s like you’re trying to have her just blowing in the wind, without any regard for her

(5/7) or the feelings of any Black person/creator. 2020 is an unprecedented year of grief for Black people, on the national level, and on many individual levels. You were not “critiqued,” Cleaver. You were indicted, and you are fortunate Taylor afforded you some dignity.

(6/7) Don’t capitalize on our grief. It is the last thing we need right now. Find a way to wrestle with yourselves, out and away from someone’s Twitter mentions. You claim you want to hear Black voices, but are working to silence in public spaces; how could you in good conscience

(7/7) even begin to CONSIDER publishing Black voices? If you want to uphold the status quo, @CleaverMagazine, do that, but don’t be performative when it comes to inclusion. It’s easy to spot insincerity.