Proof of Existence

In Proof of Existence, Phyllis Becker explores her African American family’s history from 19th century Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to her own coming of age in Kansas City. Ancestors and relatives like her great aunts Katherine, a stage performer, and Ruth, a missionary to Liberia, defied conventional expectations of their times. She comes to recognize how the courage and creativity of her forbears helped set her on her own artistic path as a poet.

Phyllis Becker coordinates the Riverfront Readings in Kansas City, Missouri, one of the longest-running literary reading series in Kansas City. She is also the author of How I Came to Love Jazz and Other Poems (Helicon Nine Editions) and the chapbook Walking Naked into Sunday (Wheel of Fire). Her work has been published in numerous venues, including New Letters, I-70 Review, Worcester Review, and The Progressive. Her poems have also been set to jazz on the compact disc Poetry of Love, produced by jazz vocalist Angela Hagenbach. Becker also consults with organizations and communities in juvenile justice reform, community engagement, and professional development. She and her husband, Mark, are jazz enthusiasts and amateur gardeners.