African American poets : lives, works, and sources /

Audre Lorde, in an essay entitled "Poetry Is Not a Luxury," stated, "Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before." This is especially true for African American poets, who have the added weight of a history of bondage and inequality to inform their art. The 46 poets examined here range from Jupiter Hammon and Phillis Wheatley in the eighteenth century to contemporary poets such as Maya Angelou, Rita Dove, and Quincy Troupe. Each entry begins with birth and death dates and a photograph of the poet, when available. After a brief overview, there is a discussion of the poet's work, including the main themes, and an analysis of selected major works. Each entry ends with a list of book-length works, where applicable; anthologies that include the poet's works; and references for further reading. The entries range from very short (2 pages) to lengthy (11 pages), averaging 8 pages. The book concludes with a list of 37 anthologies for further research and a complete index. This book is a clear and understandable resource for students in high school and college to use to begin a research project on any of the poets. Unfortunately, samples of the poetry discussed are not included, which can be a drawback for students. Many of the same poets are covered in other works, such as African American Writers: A Dictionary (ABC-CLIO, 2000) and volumes in Gale's Contemporary Authors series. This work will be most useful for school and public libraries that do not have other resources for biographical and critical information on African American poets.

Gr 9 Up-A comprehensive snapshot of African-American poets and poetry from the 18th century to the present. Pettis's introduction gives a thorough overview of its evolution from a "politically active art form" to an intimate means of exploring "personal issues." The alphabetically arranged entries cover prolific poets such as Maya Angelou, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Nikki Giovanni, as well as lesser-known writers such as Jupiter Hammon, who published in the 1700s, and Ai, a 1999 National Book Award winner. Most entries are accompanied by a black-and-white photograph of the poet; all include biographical information, literary criticism, comparisons to other writers of the time, references to specific works, and any awards or honors the poet has received. Historical context is explored, as are any noted literary influences. Every selection is followed by an extensive bibliography; an index and table of contents allow readers to search by author, subject, or work. The scope and depth of this book make it extremely useful.-Julie Webb, Shelby County High School, Shelbyville, KY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.