Famous Black Poets - List of Famous Black Poets
Despite experiencing racism, the Blacks excelled in every field be it education, music or art. Their poetry is an inspiration to generations and generations of poets and races that still face racism. Elizabeth Alexander, the poet who composed “Praise Song for the Day” poem for the inauguration of President Barack Obama is the 1st one to receive the Alphonse Fletcher, Sr. Fellowship. Her books The Venus Hottentot, Body of Life, Antebellum Dream Book, and American Sublime are quite famous. Gwendolyn Brooks, the first black poets to bag the Pulitzer Prize in poetry motivates the contemporary poets. Lucille Clifton, the Afro-American poet known for her poems on spirituality, womanhood and African-American identity won the National Book Award. Rita Dove, Jessie Redmon Fauset, Saeed Jones, Jean Toomer and Langston Hughes are some of the greatest black poets. Continue reading to know more about the famous Black poets of all time.
The Most Famous Black Poets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Birthday | Nationality | Bio |
| Maya Angelou | April 4, 1928 | American | Maya Angelou was a famous writer, activist, singer, and actor, known best for her autobiography, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ |
| Langston Hughes | February 1, 1902 | American | Langston Hughes was an African-American poet who made significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance |
| Gwendolyn Brooks | June 7, 1917 | American | Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African-American poet to win the Pulitzer Prize |
| Robert Hayden | August 4, 1913 | American | Robert Hayden was an American poet who wrote the famous poem, “Those Winter Sundays” |
| James Weldon Johnson | June 17, 1871 | American | James Weldon Johnson is credited with lot of firsts in his lifetime |
| Amiri Baraka | October 7, 1934 | American | Poet and political activist, Amiri Baraka was one of the most influential African-American writers |
| Claude McKay | September 15, 1889 | Jamaican, American | Claude McKay was a Jamaican-American writer and poet who was amongst the major figures in the Harlem Renaissance |
| James Baldwin | August 2, 1924 | American | James Baldwin was an American writer and social critic, best known for his debut novel, ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’ |
| Alice Walker | February 9, 1944 | American | Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning African-American novelist |
| Lucille Clifton | June 27, 1936 | American | Lucille Clifton was an award winning African-American poet, writer and educator whose works focused on the lives of blacks and women |
Alice Walker
Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning African-American novelist
Claude McKay
Claude McKay was a Jamaican-American writer and poet who was amongst the major figures in the Harlem Renaissance
Lucille Clifton
Lucille Clifton was an award winning African-American poet, writer and educator whose works focused on the lives of blacks and women
Amiri Baraka
Poet and political activist, Amiri Baraka was one of the most influential African-American writers
Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African-American poet to win the Pulitzer Prize
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was a famous writer, activist, singer, and actor, known best for her autobiography, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’
Robert Hayden
Robert Hayden was an American poet who wrote the famous poem, “Those Winter Sundays”
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes was an African-American poet who made significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance
James Baldwin
James Baldwin was an American writer and social critic, best known for his debut novel, ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’
James Weldon Johnson
James Weldon Johnson is credited with lot of firsts in his lifetime