April Gibson: Chicago Poet’s New Book Talks Race, Motherhood and Mississippi

Poet, Mother, Educator, Author and South Sider April Gibson releases her new book, The Span of a Small Forever (Photo Provided). This Mother’s Day weekend, the Chicago Defender celebrates dynamic Black women excelling in their careers while guiding and nurturing their families. As Mother’s Day approaches, let’s take a moment to honor the extraordinary gift that is April Gibson. She is a mother, poet, writer, professor and the author of “The Span of A Small Forever.” A native of the South Side of Chicago, April Gibson fondly reminisces about her upbringing in the city and its impact on shaping her life. She also shares with her readers the rich fabric of her experiences, like her childhood visits to her grandparents’ home in Mississippi, which ingrained in her a deep sense of cultural fusion and warmth. With a deep appreciation for the Great Migration, Gibson learned early on that “many Black folks from Chicago are from the South.”& As a devoted mother of two boys, Gibson intimately understands the sacrifices required for perseverance, a theme eloquently woven throughout her book “The Span of A Small Forever.” In it, Gibson explores a plethora of subjects close to her heart, from the challenges...