Celeste Y. Davis
Angelou, Maya. S
haker, Why Don’t You Sing?
New York: Random House, 1983.
A collection of twenty-three wonderful poems by Maya Angelou. This collection will lead to an appreciation of Angelou’s poetry. Her best collection to date.
Bontempts, Arna.
American Negro Poetry
. New York: Hill and Wang, 1974.
An anthology of poems from the Harlem Renaissance period to present.
Davis, Arthur P. and Peblow, Michael W. editors.
The New Negro Renaissance
,
An Anthology
. New York: Holt, Rhineholt, and Winston, 1975.
An excellent collection of Black American literature that represents the diversity of the New Negro Renaissance (1910-1940).
Davis, Charles T. and Walden, Daniel, editors.
On Being Black Writings By Afro Americans
. Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett Publications, Inc. 1970.
A good source for obtaining biographical information on Afro American writers from Fredrick Douglas to present, as well as excerpts from their greatest works.
Giovanni, Nikki.
Gemini
. New York: Penguin Books, 1971.
Giovanni’s extended autobiographical statement. Excellent source for those wanting to know more about the poet. For those who are already fans, you appreciate her more after reading
Gemini
.
Hopkins, Lee Bennett, editor.
You Don’t Turn Back Poems By Langston Hughes
. New York: Alfred A. Knoff, Inc. 1967.
These collection of poems by Hughes’ are great to introduce students to the poet. A very diverse collection.
Johnson, James Weldon.
God’s Trombones, Seven Negro Sermons In Verse
. New York: The Viking Press, 1927.
A collection of Johnson’s poems which use the old Negro Sermons rather than traditional dialect.
Johnson, James Weldon, editor.
The Book of American Negro Poetry
. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1931.
An anthology of American Negro Poetry Johnson selected forty poets starting with Paul Laurence Dunbar. Sketches of each poets are included which are critical as well as biographical.
June Jordan, editor.
Soulscript Afro-American Poetry
. New York: Zenith Books, Doubleday and Company Inc., 1970.
Soulscript
opens with poetry by Black children ranging in age from twelve to eighteen, then moves to poems by accomplished Afro American poets.
Koch, Kenneth.
Wishes, Lies, and Dreams
. New York: Perennial Library, 1980.
A must for teachers introducing poetry in the classroom. Koch includes poetry written by students and gives teaching suggestions and strategies.
Walker, Alice.
Once: Poems
. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1968.
The first volume of Alice Walker’s poetry. A fantastic collection of witty and graceful poems.
