Heavenly birthday wishes James Weldon Johnson! Born June 17, 1871, James Weldon Johnson was an author, poet, civil rights activist and co-composer of Lift Every Voice and Sing. He died in 1938.
365 Black Books Porsha Olayiwola Saturday
Belated happy birthday Porsha Olayiwola! Born June 11, Porsha Olayiwola is native of Chicago who writes, lives and loves in Boston. Olayiwola is a writer, performer, educator and curator who uses afro-futurism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, woman, and queer diasporas. She is an Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and the founder of the Roxbury Poetry Festival. Olayiwola is Brown University’s 2019 Heimark Artist -In -Residence as well as the 2021 Artist-in-Residence at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. She is a 2020 poet laureate fellow with the Academy of American poets.
365 Black Books Frank X. Walker Thursday
Happy birthday Frank X. Walker! Born June 11, Frank X. Walker is an African American poet from Danville, Kentucky. Walker coined the word “Affrilachia”, signifying the importance of the African American presence in Appalachia: the “new word … spoke to the union of Appalachian identity and the region’s African-American culture and history”. He was the winner of the 2025 PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection for his book Load in Nine Times.
365 Black Books Nikki Giovanni Monday
Belated heavenly birthday wishes Nikki Giovanni! Born June 7, 1943, Nikki Giovanni was an award winning poet, author, activist, professor and so much more! Her body of work is historical, social, political, and relevant today as it was it was written. She passed away in 2024. Here is just a little of her notable works:
365 Black Books Gwendolyn Brooks Sunday
Heavenly birthday wishes Gwendolyn Brooks! Born June 7, 1917, Gwendolyn Brooks was an award winning author, poet, and United States Poet Laureate. My favorite poem is “We Real Cool”. She passed away in 2000. Here are some of her classic poetry books.
365 Black Books Albery Allson Whitman Tuesday
Belated heavenly birthday wishes Albery Allson Whitman! Born May 30, 1851, Albery Allson Whitman was egroan African-American poet, minister and orator. Born into slavery, Whitman became a writer. During his lifetime he was acclaimed as the “Poet Laureate of the Negro Race.” He passed away in 1901. Here are a few of his notable works.
365 Black Books Elizabeth Alexander Monday
Belated birthday wishes Elizabeth Alexander! Born May 30, Elizabeth Alexander is an African American poet, writer, and literary scholar who has served as the president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation since 2018. Here are some of her notable works:
365 Black Books Countee Cullen Sunday
Belated heavenly birthday wishes Countee Cullen! Born May 30, 1903 Countee Cullen was an American poet, novelist, children’s writer, and playwright, particularly well known during the Harlem Renaissance. He passed away in 1946. Here are some of his notable works:
365 Black Books Melvin Dixon Saturday
Belated heavenly birthday wishes Melvin Dixon! Born May 29, 1950, Melvin Dixon was an American Professor of Literature, and an author, poet and translator. He wrote about black gay men. He passed away in 1992. Some of his notable works:
365 Black Books Jay Wright Tuesday
Belated birthday wishes Jay Wright! Born May 25, Jay Wright is an award winning poet, playwright and essayist. Some of his notable works are:
The CamaraIfe Maktaba 