The Black Poets

"The claim of The Black Poetsto being... an anthology is that itpresents the full range of Black-American poetry,from the slave songs to the present day. It isimportant that folk poetry be included because it isthe root and inspiration of later, literarypoetry. Not only does this book present the full rangeof Black poetry, but it presents most poets indepths, and in some cases presents aspects of a poetneglected or overlooked before. Gwendolyn Brooksis represented not only by...
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"The claim of The Black Poetsto being... an anthology is that itpresents the full range of Black-American poetry,from the slave songs to the present day. It isimportant that folk poetry be included because it isthe root and inspiration of later, literarypoetry. Not only does this book present the full rangeof Black poetry, but it presents most poets indepths, and in some cases presents aspects of a poetneglected or overlooked before. Gwendolyn Brooksis represented not only by poems on racial anddomestic themes, but is revealed as a writer ofsuperb love lyrics. Tuming away from White models andretuming to their roots has freed Black poets tocreate a new poetry. This book records theirprogress."--from the Introduction by DudleyRandall