All the world is a runway. This illustrated poetry book uses fashion as a metaphor to describe this world, rather runway of ours. On parts of that runway, you will find joy, beauty, and love. On other parts, you will find kindness, understanding, and patience. Yet despite all this wonderfulness, there are places on that runway where ugliness, sadness, and hate are the designers. And these designers peddle their brands: white supremacy, patriarchy, and homophobia, etc., worldwide. The models must choose and strut. Each and every model is wearing something. For you will always find something, loving or hateful, as no one on the runway is naked.
Many had no choice in their looks, outfits, or wardrobe. No, these outfits were foisted upon them. In some cases, they wear their tailored trauma trousers because someone held them down, raped them, and forced them to wear that fear, hurt, and pain. Others wear looks, outfits, and ensembles made from fabrics of support, empowerment, and agency.
In an industry that is known just as much for its oppression and exclusion of Black people while simultaneously appropriating our style, vibe, and creativity, these poems are meant to show our beauty and bravery. In an industry that exploits women more than it empowers them, these poems are meant to show their struggle and strength. In an industry that tolerates LGBTQ+ people to monetize them for their Pride and ideas, these lines are meant to show their honor and humanity.
These flows are as much about fashion as they are about this world, this runway, this continuous catwalk where we have to fight for the frocks of freedom that are inalienable rights. These bars are as much about tearing off the suits of tragedy they forced us to wear and burning them. These poems speak encouragement to victims, support to the forsaken, and truth to power, but with style. All in the hope that everyone will be able to wear the ensemble each model deserves: freedom. We were, are, and will always be more than what was done to us.
