Save It for Later Promises, Parenthood, and the Urgency of Protest
Powell highlights both the danger of normalized paramilitary symbols in consumer pop culture and the roles we play individually as we interact with our communities, families, and society at large. Each essay tracks Powell's journey from the night of the election--promising his four-year-old daughter that Trump will never win to the reality of the authoritarian presidency, protesting the administration's policies, and navigating the complications of teaching his children how to raise their own voices in a world that is becoming increasingly dangerous and more and more polarized. While six of the seven essays are new, unpublished work, Powell has also included "About Face," a comics essay first published by Popula Online that swiftly went viral and inspired him to write Save It for Later. The seventh and final essay was written after the 2020 presidential election, and examines the outcome of that contest in relation to the events of the last four years, with a particular focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and global protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. As Powell moves between subjective and objective experiences raising his children--depicted in their childhood innocence as imaginary anthropomorphic animals--he reveals the electrifying sense of trust and connection with neighbors and strangers in protest. He also explores how to equip young people with tools to best make their own noise as they grow up and help shape the direction and future of this country.