Other
Harvard Magazine: A Conversation With Tracy K. Smith '94
An interview with Tracy K. Smith, the 2017 U.S. Poet Laureate, where she talks about her memoir, Ordinary Light. (Published April 9, 2015)
Other
Phillis Wheatley: Life and Poems
Biographical note about the 18th century African American poet Phillis Wheatley.
Curated OER
Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral
The Library of Congress series biography of Phillis Wheatley also includes links to her selected writings.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Sapphire
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Sapphire, an American author of fiction and poetry that features unsparing though often empowering depictions of the vicissitudes of African American and bisexual life.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Eloise Greenfield Biography
Discover how Eloise Greenfield became an author when you explore this biography of her. This site also features a booklist for this award winning author.
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: February 1: Victor Herbert and Langston Hughes
This section of Today in History tells about the lives of Victor Herbert and Langston Hughes and gives links to pertinent historical primary materials relating to them.
My Hero Project
My Hero: Maya Angelou
This resource offers the text given by two middle school students on why Angelou is their hero. It also contains an extensive biography given by Susannah Abbey. It has the text to the poem "A Brave and Startling Truth."
Curated OER
Massachusetts Historical Society: Phillis Wheatley
Read a biography of Phillis Wheatley, along with poems and letters written by her.
Cengage Learning
Teaching Clifton: Classroom Issues & Strategies
Some general strategies, discussion questions & teaching information from the Heath Anthology for teachers interested in teaching Clifton's poetry.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: June Jordan
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features June Jordan, an African American author who investigated both social and personal concerns through poetry, essays, and drama.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Mari Evans
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Mari Evans, an African American author of poetry, children's literature, and plays.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Nikki Giovanni
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Nikki Giovanni, an African-American poet whose writings ranged from calls for violent revolution to poems for children and intimate personal statements.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: What Was the Harlem Renaissance?
Professor Kate Rushin describes the Harlem Renaissance as a large social and cultural movement fueled by many factors in this video from A Walk Through Harlem.
My Hero Project
My Hero: Langston Hughes
This introduction to the life and writing of Langston Hughes profiles the poet who emerged with the Harlem Renaissance to earn "a place amongst the greatest poets America has ever produced."
Curated OER
University at Buffalo: Derek Walcott
This site, created by a University of Buffalo math professor with a deep interest in African American and Caribbean writing, gives four poems by Walcott an audio of him speaking, and a biography and bibliography.
Curated OER
University at Buffalo: Derek Walcott
This site, created by a University of Buffalo math professor with a deep interest in African American and Caribbean writing, gives four poems by Walcott an audio of him speaking, and a biography and bibliography.
Curated OER
Phillis Wheatley
Encyclopaedia Britannica provides a brief biography of Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784 CE), the first African-American to have a book of poetry published.
Other popular searches
- African American Poetry Unit
- Poetry by African Americans
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- Poetry/ African American