Cordero Estremera
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Image by Megwara Favour from Pexels
Cordero Estremera is a husband and Columbus poet-educator who explores black ontology, fugitivity, and history in hopes of embodying the essence of the blues tradition. He holds a BA in Creative Writing from Denison University and an MFA from Miami University (of Ohio). His poems attempt to transcend typical phono-photo-porno-graphic descriptions of violence associated with and onto black bodies via song and quiet joy. He draws from his experience moving over 37 times across the United States.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
© 2026 Iron Oak Literary
Stay Connected to Our Literary Community. Subscribe to Our Substack Roots & Words
Race Records
chattel/ child/ comic/ consumer
the 4C's
yes, we-us-i bleed/ cash money
listen up–
victrola radio
gather round–
heathen/ country boy
well come to the big cities:
chicago; pittsburgh; phili; new york
listen to Paul Whiteman
“King of Jazz”
Ma Rainey/ Bessie Smith
or good boy
Benny Goodman
“King of Swing”
Ellington/ Henderson
and if you get that far–
listen to Mulligan
“King of Cool”
then you'll see
Whiteman Acolian Hall
White man hobbies
White man minstrel shows
White man caricatures of the American Classic Music
good White men in their offices critiquing blues
without reference to blues people
good men making money
on Black life–
music/ philosophy/ struggle
buckled on we-us-i's gold belts
or if you think to remember–
witness Elvis Presley
Mr. “King of Rock N Roll”
Otis Blackwell
and the irony is you'll
fall in line with ragtime
good men giving your poetry
good reviews–
and Black folk will be
chattel/ child/ comic/ consumer
the 4C's
yes, we-us-i bleed/ cash money
listen up–
victrola radio
gather round–
heathen/ country boy
well come to the big cities:
chicago; pittsburgh; phili; new york
listen to Paul Whiteman
“King of Jazz”
or good boy
Benny Goodman
“King of Swing”
and if you get that far–
listen to Mulligan
“King of Cool”
then you'll see
Whiteman Acolian Hall
White man hobbies
White man minstrel shows
White man caricatures of the American Classic Music
good White men in their offices critiquing blues
without reference to blues people
good men making money
on Black life–
music/ philosophy/ struggle
buckled on we-us-i's gold belts
or if you think to remember–
witness Elvis Presley
Mr. “King of Rock N Roll”
and the irony is you'll
fall in line with ragtime
good men giving your poetry
good reviews–
and Black folk will be
imaginedun-Black
un-music
un-joy/ un-together/ un-gathered in joy
un-loud/ un-frenzied/ un-happy
un-particular
un-dead/ un-gospel
un-we-us-i
assimilated
un-joy/ un-together/ un-gathered in joy
un-loud/ un-frenzied/ un-happy
un-particular
un-dead/ un-gospel
un-we-us-i
assimilated
Listen:
