Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Maya Angelou (1928 2014)
A look at the life and works of poet and writer Maya Angelou, complete with detailed biography, bibliography, links to poems and articles.
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Lucille Clifton (1936 2010)
Biographical information on the life and works of poet Lucille Clifton.
University at Buffalo
Univ. At Buffalo: Circle Association's Rita Dove Page
Site from the University at Buffalo is still under construction for a mini biography and bibliography. However, site does have an interview of Rita Dove from 1997 and thirteen writings or poems by Dove. Links to other African American...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Phillis Wheatley
Brief biography of early American poet Wheatley, including helpful links and other additional titles about her.
National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame: Maya Angelou
Read a biography of African-American writer Maya Angelou, a woman whose career has inspired and affected millions of people.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 2: Langston Hughes and the Blues
Explore relationship between music and poetry in this African-American history lesson on Langston Hughes, the Harlem Renaissance, and other artists such as Bessie Smith, John Hammond, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Tracy K. Smith
A profile of Tracy K. Smith, the 2017 U.S. Poet Laureate. Includes links to her poems and to a video where she talks about her book, Life on Mars.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Jean Toomer
A biography of Jean Toomer and links to two editions of his book Cane.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Walking Down Park by Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni is one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement and has won numerous awards. Her work ranges from covering topics on race, gender, the African American experience and social issues to children's literature and...
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies
Mocomi: Maya Angelou
Read about the inspiring life story of Maya Angelou, an African American poet and author.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Yusef Komunyakaa
This is a link to two interviews of Komunyakaa: on poetry and on the heritage of jazz for African American poets. There is a commentary on "Tu Do Street". There are several links to other Komunyakaa sites.
New York Times
New York Times: Helene Johnson, Poet of Harlem, 89, Dies
[Free Registration/Login Required] An obituary for Helene Johnson, a famous Harlem Renaissance poet. Includes quotations from some of her poems.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Paul Laurence Dunbar
This site focuses on Paul Laurence Dunbar including a biography that includes a poem in dialect "Negro Love Song" illustrating how well the author used this format. It also includes links to eight of his books.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Langston Hughes
This site gives a short biography of Langston Hughes's life, a "Mini Bio: Langston Hughes" video [3:33] and links to 20 of his books.
University of Virginia
University of Virginia: The Rita Dove Home Page
This is the official University of Virginia's Rita Dove Home Page. Read either a brief or a comprehensive biography on Rita poet. This site also offers photographs of Rita Dove and links to other related Rita
University of Washington
Best Site on Colleen Mc Elroy
This site is from the University of Washington, where McElroy is a professor. It has biographical information, a list of her works, and other details about the writer.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Reading Guide to Langston Hughes
This guide discusses Langston Hughes's body of poetry, as well as briefly analyzing characteristics in several individual poems. The site also offers an interview with writer Afaa Weaver regarding Hughes's works, discussion questions, a...
Black Past
Black Past: Phillis Wheatley
This on-line encyclopedia article gives information about Phillis Wheatley, the Boston slave who surprised colonial America with her poetry. She was the first African-American woman to have her work published.
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: "The Idea of Ancestry" by Etheridge Knight
The text of Etheridge Knight's poem, "The Idea of Ancestry."
Black Past
Black Past: Brooks, Gwendolyn
A short biographical encyclopedia entry about Gwendolyn Brooks, prize-winning black poet.
Black Past
Black Past: Baraka, Amiri
This is a very brief encyclopedia entry about Amiri Baraka, born as Everett Leroi Jones. He is an impassioned poet and playwright who wrote about the black racial identity. A link to a website for more information is provided.
Black Past
Black Past: Cullen, Countee
The brief encyclopedia article tells about Countee Cullen, famous poet of the Harlem Renaissance.
Black Past
Black Past: Maya Angelou
This brief encyclopedia selection recounts the interesting life of Maya Angelou, black poet and novelist. There are links to websites for more information.
Black Past
Black Past: Hughes, Langston
This encyclopedia article is a brief biography of Langston Hughes, the influential poet during the Harlem Renaissance.