The Greatest African American Poets of All Time
Black America is home to a rich literary tradition, and it’s one that’s almost entirely forgotten. Black writers from the early days of slavery through the Jim Crow era were forced to craft their works in secret for fear of persecution. And so we have some very important but little-known writers whose work deserves to be rediscovered.
Many Black writers today are heralded for their work as innovators, such as Audre Lorde and Alice Walker. However, many others have been overlooked by history. This article will guide you through some of the best African American poets who will inspire you throughout your life.
If you’re anything like us, then you’ve probably been feeling a little low lately. Maybe it’s finals week, or the stress of moving into your first apartment, or maybe just the end of summer blues that are setting in. No matter why, we feel like right now is the perfect time to get inspired.
And who better to do that with than our favorite writers?
That’s right, you! If you’re feeling down right now because you don’t know what to read next or need a little motivation to get through your difficult times, well then we have just the thing for you. Black poetry can be transformative and uplifting, which is why reading black poetry should be part of your routine no matter what mood you’re in.
There are many ways to measure the value of a poet. One important way is by how much their work speaks to a larger audience and how much it continues to speak long after it was written. The African American poet has been speaking in many voices for over 350 years, but especially during the last century, when there has been an explosion of literary talent among this group. In fact, some would argue that there has never been a group of poets with as much literary impact and popularity as today’s generation of African American poets. These poets are known for their usage of rhythm and imagery, their use of double-meaning and wordplay as well as their ability to write about social issues in ways that have not only challenged but also changed the world around us in all kinds of positive ways.
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was an author who wrote about the South as well as about African American culture. Her writings are considered to be part of the Harlem Renaissance movement, and her best known works include the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God and the short story Sweat. After high school, she enrolled at Howard University. During her career, she met and studied under some of the most famous African American scholars of the time, such as Alain Locke and W. E. B. Dubois. She started to write poetry from a young age.
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes was a poet and author who wrote about the life and history of African Americans. He was a contributor to the Harlem Renaissance, and he received recognition for both his poetry and his novels. His works include the poem Dreams and the book The Big Sea. Hughes was born in 1901 in Joplin, Missouri. After high school, Hughes attended Columbia University, but he left due to persistent racism. After he left, he started his writing career. He became a part of the Harlem Renaissance and his writings focused on themes of racial oppression, poverty, and the lives of African Americans. He also began to write poetry as well as fiction. He received many awards and honors for his writings, and he was also a part of the Congress of Racial Equality, helping to organize the March on Washington in 1963.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was a poet and an author as well as an actress and filmmaker. She was a contemporary of the Harlem Renaissance, and she was well known for her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which details her childhood and her experiences of overcoming many challenges. She grew up in a household affected by poverty and racism. Her experiences of racial discrimination helped to inspire her writings and her poetry. She received many awards for her works, including a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and she was also awarded a Pulitzer Prize.
Countee Cullen
Countee Cullen was a playwright, poet, and writer. He was born in 1903. He attended New York University for his undergraduate studies. During that period, he became well known for his writing which started to build his national reputation. After graduation, he attended Harvard University to obtain a master’s degree. Cullen wrote about themes of racial injustice, love, and religion.
Etheridge Knight
Etheridge Knight was a poet who wrote about his experiences as an African American living in poverty. He wrote about issues such as racial discrimination, police brutality, and poverty. He was one of the founders of the Black Arts Movement, a cultural and literary movement created by African American writers and artists.
Final Words
When you read poetry, you are engaging with the written word on a very deep level. Poems are not just facts on a page; they are symbols that mean different things to different people. The power of poetry is in the way it can make readers think about things in new ways, generating new ideas and inspiring new actions. Through poetry, you can learn about important issues in society, such as racism, injustice, war, social injustice, or any other topic that matters to you. You can learn about these issues by reflecting on the poems, making note of the ways in which they make you think, feel, and change the way you act in the world.
These poets have all been recognized as important contributors to American poetry, but what makes them great is how each of them has used the power of poetry to create social change, to challenge people to think beyond the status quo and to break down barriers of all kinds. Poetry is a very special kind of writing that can change the way people think and feel, and it can also change the way they live their lives.