Robert Seay's latest collection, Broken Chains, is a poetic narrative that reflects upon an America whose racial legacy stands in stark contrast to its espoused promise, principles and values. Broken Chains turns a lens on the inequality and injustice perpetrated across America’s long arc of racialized laws, culture, behavior and attitudes.

At its core, Broken Chains argues that America’s racial fault line is anchored in enslavement’s legacy of greed, racism, and racial disenfranchisement. Since its inception, America’s inability to come to grips with race and racism has held hostage democracy’s past, present, and perhaps its future. Broken Chains suggests that our redemption lies with people of good will continuing to struggle against forces that would seek to deny the bounty of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—equally to all.