It’s February and you know what that means: it’s also Black History Month, and there are a number of ways you can honor it. One of my personal favorite ways is to read poetry by black writers whom I have admired over the years. Here is a short, albeit not nearly as comprehensive as I would have liked it to be, list of black poets whose work you can read and support to commemorate Black History Month.
1. nyah hardmon
Watch Hardmon’s performance of the poem “The Next Shakespeare Will Be from the Hood,” and you won’t be able to stop thinking about it for the rest of the year (or century- I’m still thinking about it). From South Florida and a recipient of the US Presidential Scholar in the Arts award, Hardmon has performed her spoken word poetry on countless stages, one being the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Aside from being a spoken word poet, Hardmon is also a music journalist who’s worked with Amazon Music, The Recording Academy, and more. You can follow her on Instagram here and read her poem Cocoon here to get started.
2. gwendolyn brooks
I quickly became a fan of Gwendolyn Brooks after reading her poem To the Young Who Want to Die. I read this poem once and had to read it again and again and again; I was in love. Brooks has written over 20 collections of poetry, became the first African American to receive the Pulitzer Prize, the first black woman to hold the position of U.S. Poet Laureate, and was also the first woman and African American poet appointed as the Poet Laureate of Illinois. In short, she has lived an extraordinary life. She is most known for the poem We Real Cool, but you can easily explore other poetry by her online: here is a link to help you out.
3. june jordan
I also fell in love with June Jordan after I heard one of her most famous quotes from my high school creative writing teacher: “Poetry is a political act because it involves telling the truth.” Her poetry not only inspires, but it moves its audience to action. Read Oughta Be a Woman or I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Born in New York and a devoted educator, Jordan is known for her relentless political activism and poetry advocating for human rights. You can find a complete list of her work here.
4. Shnayjaah jeanty
South Florida Youth Poet Laureate, National Youth Poet Laureate Finalist, and nationally recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, YoungArts, Adroit, etc.- and she’s only 19 years old. Jeanty is currently a student at Columbia University pursuing passions in both the legal field and spoken word poetry. Her clever poetry often explores themes of identity, trauma, and social justice, among compelling others. My favorite poem by her is An Intervention for the Metaphor, but you could also start with patent pending, In Which Charles Darwin Actually Heals the Black Community, or all three if you’d like. You can find Jeanty on Instagram here to keep yourself updated on her art!
5. darius v. daughtry
The first poem I heard from Daughtry was what can a poem do? during a poetry performance workshop years ago, and I have since reread this poem many times. Based in South Florida and founder of the non-profit organization Art Prevails Project, Daughtry works as a poet, playwright, and educator dedicated to encouraging creative expression in various communities. Daughtry’s wordplay, rhyme, and other poetic devices might inspire you to write poetry as musical as his too (I know it inspired me). You can follow Daughtry on Instagram here, where he often posts poetry performances, and you can purchase his collection of poetry, And The Walls Came Tumbling, here.
6. shawn welcome
If you didn’t know about Orlando’s Poet Laureate Shawn Welcome, now you do! Guyanese American, UCF alumni (GKCO!), and founder of Central Florida’s weekly poetry open mic “Diverse Word,” Welcome has performed his poetry on countless stages around the world. Still, you’ll often find him performing right here in Central Florida. The first poem I heard from him was Reasons Why, paying homage to the beauty of Central Florida, and I think it is a wonderful place to start. You can follow his Instagram here.
7. major jackson
The first poem I read by Major Jackson was the poem Let Me Begin Again during a poetry writing workshop, and I think it serves as a beautiful introduction to the rest of his work. Jackson’s poetry never ceases to inspire me whenever I hit writer’s block. Read The Nature of Memory, and perhaps you might be inspired by your own unique memories too. You can follow him on Instagram here, but I would also suggest exploring his website and publications here if you like what you’ve read!
8. langston hughes
Langston Hughes is one of my favorite poets of all time. Known for being one of the leading artists of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes’ work focuses on the everyday experiences of black life in America, both good and bad. His writing is often inspiring and candid, and I admire how simple yet authentic his poetry is. From April Rain Song to Suicide to I, Too, Hughes’ work continues to serve as an accurate but inspiring depiction of perseverance. You can easily find collections of his work at bookstores, online, or on websites like Poetry Foundation or poets.org.
When I first started writing poetry, I immediately noticed and hated the lack of acknowledgment of poets of color. When people think of poetry, they often think of white (usually male) poets who excelled because they had access to the necessary resources to do so: William Shakespeare, T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Edgar Allan Poe, and Walt Whitman, among many others. While these are talented poets, there are other entire worlds of poetry that some never try to venture into. Others not mentioned above are Kamau Brathwaite, Danez Smith, Hanif Abdurraqib, Rita Dove, Phillis Wheatley, and countless other poets who tell stories of resilience, strength, and struggle.
My classes did not teach this poetry. If I did not take it upon myself to read works by these poets, I don’t think I would have ever encountered their writing.
That being said, I hope this list offers you a glimpse into that world that hopefully inspires you to explore it further. Enjoy, and happy reading!