WGBH

Who was Phillis Wheatley, the first African American poet to publish a book?

In 1761, a young girl crossed the Atlantic on a slave ship. Captured in West Africa and transported to Boston, where she was enslaved by John and Susanna Wheatley. They named her Phillis, after the ...
KETV Omaha

Jewel Rodgers appointed as first African American Nebraska poet laureate

BEAUTIFUL IN THE DISTANCE. WELL, IN LINCOLN TODAY, GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN APPOINTS OMAHA AUTHOR AND PERFORMER JEWELL ROGERS AS NEBRASKA’S NEW STATE POET. AT 27, ROGERS IS THE YOUNGEST TO HOLD THE ...
KSHB Kansas City

Black poets and writers celebrated in Kansas City, Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Black poets and other writers read their work Thursday night at ‘A Nation in Exile’ event at 21c Museum at the Kansas City Hotel. “I just think it’s important for every single ...
Brownstoner

Poets Honor the African-American Literary Tradition as Part of Black Artstory Month

All month long, you can celebrate the rich tradition of African-American art in Brooklyn. As part of the sixth annual Black Artstory Month — a series of exhibitions and walks that introduce visitors ...
insider.si.edu

National Museum of African American History and Culture Acquires Major Collection of Work Attributed to Poet Phillis Wheatley Peters

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has acquired the largest private collection of items to bring new context and perspective to the life and literary ...
The Washington Post

Older and wiser: A poet found solace in writing and now hopes to share joy

“As a child, I was just fascinated by the world around me, and I always felt weird,” said Jaki Shelton Green, now 71 and North Carolina’s first African American poet laureate. “I would sit and think ...
insider.si.edu

Black nature : four centuries of African American nature poetry / edited by Camille T. Dungy

Cycle one: Just looking. We must be careful / Ed Roberson -- Earth is a living thing / Lucille Clifton -- Mountains of California, part I / Al Young -- Mountain road ends here / G.E. Patterson -- ...
WFAE

Poets riff on Charlotte's Black history in uptown performance

A group of local poets came together Friday night to perform a spoken-word album highlighting Charlotte’s Black history. Their pieces celebrated, honored and put a spotlight on key moments in the city ...
Newsday

Jupiter Hammon, early African American poet, to be celebrated at Joseph Lloyd Manor

Almost 10 years ago, the poem “An Essay on Slavery,” by the first published African American poet ,Jupiter Hammon, was discovered at an archive at Yale University. Written in 1786, the poem had spent ...
Channel 3000

Madison's first Black Poet Laureate shares Black History Month poems

MADISON, Wis. -- Dr. Fabu Phillis Carter is Madison's first African American Poet Laureate. She held that role from 2008 to 2012. The African American scholar received her last degree from the ...
PBS

Detroit native Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd named Michigan’s third-ever poet laureate

Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd discusses being named the new Michigan Poet Laureate. Detroit native Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd has been named Michigan’s new poet laureate. She is the third person to be appointed to ...
Morningstar

USPS Honors Phillis Wheatley, First Published African American Poet, With 49th Black Heritage Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book, with the 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series. The ...