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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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:
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:
Belated birthday wishes Jay Wright! Born May 25, Jay Wright is an award winning poet, playwright and essayist. Some of his notable works are:
Happy birthday Dominique Christina! Born May 22, Dominique Christina s a writer, performer and social activist. She is a champion at the National Poetry Series and Women of the World Poetry Slam. Christina’s 4th book Anarcha Speaks won the National Poetry Series in 2017. Here are her notable works:
Belated heavenly birthday wishes to Eloise Greenfield! Born May 17, 1929, Eloise Greenfield was an award winning African American children’s book and biography author and poet famous for her descriptive, rhythmic style and positive portrayal of the African-American experience. She passed away in 2021. Here are just a few of her notable works:
