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Ashley M. Jones is Alabama's first black Poet Laureate and at the age of 31, she's also the youngest. The position of Poet Laureate was created 91 years ago in Alabama, a state still grappling with its history of slavery. Teaching Critical Race Theory is banned in some schools.

Ashley talks about her third collection of poems, Reparations Now, and what inspires her work, including her experience of racism and losing her white best friend as a child. She hopes the position will give her opportunity to promote poetry from the state and to look at its history.

She will be in the post from 2022-2026.

(Photo: Amarr Croskey for the Birmingham Times)