Three books about our magic!
Book 1: The Breakbeat Poets, Vol. 2 Black Girl Magic
Book 2: Black Boy Magic by Tex Stanly
Book 3: Black Magic by Langston Hughes
Day 9 of September is Black Reading Month Poetic Tuesday
Today’s focus is poetry. Starting with one of Detroit’s own, Dudley Randall. He was a poet, publisher, and founder of Broadside Press.
Poet Laureate and founder of Lotus Press, Naomi Long Madgett
Poet #3 Georgia Douglas Johnson
Letter to Kwame Alexander
Dear Kwame Alexander, Thank you for making us openly weep last year at the ILA conference when you said, “The mind of an adult begins with the imagination of a child,” and “all kids are the good kids” When we heard you say those words and the room burst into thunderous applause, we knew […]
via An Open Thank You Letter to Kwame Alexander — Nerdy Book Club
April 20 Poet of the Day: Askia M. Toure
Askia M. Toure, poet, activist, and a leading voice in The Black Arts Movement, is April 20 Poet of the Day. Read more about this fascinating poet below.
Biography: http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2377/Tour-Askia.html
The History Makers: http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/askia-toure-41
Journal of Pan African Studies: http://www.jpanafrican.com/docs/vol5no7/5.67Askia.pdf
Videos: “A History of Civil Rights and the Black Arts Movement”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiTKQRfVu1Q; “Nubian Dawn: A Goddess Smiles”: https://vimeo.com/19921546; “Black Writers Museum”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyWFwuk1WUM; “Spit Fire Poetry Fest”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwmsjiaHeU
April 19 Poet of the Day: Cheryl Clarke
Cheryl Clarke, educator, poet, activist and more, is April 19 Poet of the Day. Read about this fascinating feminist poet below.
Website: http://www.cherylclarkepoet.com/
Poets.org: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/cheryl-clarke
Encylopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2873400023.html
Videos: BlackPoetsSpeakOut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQQ9jfpN-wA; “Queer Black Trouble (Kessler Lecture): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieLeQOjtkyw
April 17 Poet of the Day: Wanda Coleman
Wanda Coleman, also known as the “L. A. Bluesman”, is April 17 Poet of the Day. Read more about this fascinating poet below.
Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/wanda-coleman
Poets.org: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/wanda-coleman
Poet Society of America: https://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/poetry/crossroads/qa_american_poetry/wanda_coleman/
Afro Poets: http://www.afropoets.net/wandacoleman.html
Videos: “Where I Live”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPJTI8WWI0E; “Wanda, Why Aren’t You Dead?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALI-QlOU_ok; “My Car”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF8G5qYP2UY; “Luvina Reading”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izl8ktxEI6U Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eltV25FLh_I; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7wzNRf6mJs
April 14 Poet of the Day: Terrance Hayes
Terrance Hayes is my April 14 Poet of the Day. Read more about this poet below:
Website: http://terrancehayes.com/
Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/terrance-hayes
Poets.org: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/terrance-hayes
National Book Awards: http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2010_p_hayes.html#.VeKLE3vluEA
April 13 Poet of the Day: Anne Spencer
My belated poet of the day posts are slowly but surely coming! April 13 Poet of the Day is Anne Spencer, a Harlem Renaissance poet. More information about her is listed below:
Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/anne-spencer
Modern American Poetry: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/s_z/spencer/spencer.htm
Afro Poets.Net: http://www.afropoets.net/annespencer.html
Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum: http://www.annespencermuseum.com/poetry.php
April 9 Poet of the Day: Tracy K. Smith
Tracy K. Smith is April 9 Poet of the Day. Read more about this award winning poet below.
Poets.org: http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/tracy-k-smith, http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/text/line-between-two-worlds-tracy-k-smith-and-elizabeth-alexander-conversation
NPR: http://www.npr.org/2012/01/27/145985904/newspoet-tracy-k-smith-writes-the-day-in-verse
Pulitzer: http://www.pulitzer.org/biography/2012-Poetry
PBS: http://video.pbs.org/video/1929273566/
Youtube video: “Imagining the Universe” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW7WIJaSfl4, PEN World Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGEI9vWOGxs, “The Good Life” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUn4DWu7b4U
The CamaraIfe Maktaba 