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San Francisco Unified School District: Teaching #Blacklivesmatter
A library research guide with a huge collection of links to articles, lesson plans, readings, poetry, and official documents. They explore the experiences of African Americans and the evolution and purpose of the Black Lives Matter...
New York Times
New York Times: Week of 5 26 14: Lyrical Witness of Jim Crow South, Dies at 86
[Free Registration/Login Required] African American poet Maya Angelou passed away this week. Learn about her difficult early life and rise to fame as a critically acclaimed author.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: 300 Women Who Changed History: Phillis Wheatley
Encyclopedia Britannica provides a brief biography of Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784 CE), the first African-American to have a book of poetry published.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: "Letter From Spain"
This site from Modern American Poetry provides a review of the famous poem by Langston Hughes. The information that is provided is somewhat brief, but factual, and worth checking out.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Paul Laurence Dunbar
This site focuses on Paul Laurence Dunbar including a biography that includes a poem in dialect "Negro Love Song" illustrating how well the author used this format. It also includes links to eight of his books.
University at Buffalo
Univ. At Buffalo: Circle Association's Rita Dove Page
Site from the University at Buffalo is still under construction for a mini biography and bibliography. However, site does have an interview of Rita Dove from 1997 and thirteen writings or poems by Dove. Links to other African American...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Walking Down Park by Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni is one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement and has won numerous awards. Her work ranges from covering topics on race, gender, the African American experience and social issues to children's literature and...
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Tracy K. Smith, New u.s. Poet Laureate, Calls Poems Her 'Anchor'
A profile of Tracy K. Smith, the U.S. Poet Laureate for 2017. Includes an audio recording of her reading the poem "When Your Small Form Tumbled Into Me." (Published June 14, 2017)
Other
Poets' Corner: Harlem Shadows: The Poems of Claude Mc Kay
A collection of seventy four poems by Claude McKay. With an introduction by editor Nelson Miller highlighting his life and great works.
CommonLit
Common Lit: "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each text is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words to see the...
Black Past
Black Past: Phillis Wheatley
This on-line encyclopedia article gives information about Phillis Wheatley, the Boston slave who surprised colonial America with her poetry. She was the first African-American woman to have her work published.
Washington State University
Washington State University: American Authors: Phillis Wheatley
A bibliographical list of works by or about the African American poet Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784). Click on the links to take you to the works. The first link takes you to a directory of files containing Wheately poetry or questions...
University of North Carolina
Documenting the American South: Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheatley
This site from the University of North Carolina provides the full text of Phillis Wheatley's poetry, and her memoirs.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: On "The Weary Blues"
This site features four different reviews of Langston Hughes' debut award winning volume of poems "Weary Blues". Compiled by the University of Illinois.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Symbolism in "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"
This video segment from A Walk Through Harlem features the poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes.
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Tracy K. Smith
A profile of Tracy K. Smith, the 2017 U.S. Poet Laureate. Includes links to her poems and to a video where she talks about her book, Life on Mars.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Understanding Poetry of Maya Angelou Through Rap Lyric
By examining the lives and lyrics of popular, positive black female rappers such as Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill, students can trace a direct line back to the inspirational writer and poet, Maya Angelou. Rap lyrics will help explicate...
Other
Beltway Poetry Quarterly: Georgia Douglas Johnson
A detailed biography of Georgia Douglas Johnson. With selected works including the poem "YOUR WORLD" and a list of other suggested readings.
Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society: Phillis Wheatley
Read a biography of Phillis Wheatley, along with poems and letters written by her.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Lift Every Voice and Sing
Explore and analyze "Lift Every Voice and Sing" , a poem by James Weldon Johnson, which was set to music and is considered the "Black National Anthem."
Scholastic
Scholastic: Early Childhood Today: Soulful Festival
Provides early childhood education activities that engage African American culture. Poetry, music, foods, and more are included.
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge: The First Black Female Poet?
This article looks at a ballad, 'Bars Fight,' by 18th century African-American writer Lucy Terry. It considers the literary qualities of a ballad, and its historical role in society. It then goes on to consider why a Black slave might...
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Lucille Clifton (1936 2010)
Biographical information on the life and works of poet Lucille Clifton.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Phillis Wheatley, Poet
A brief look at the fascinating life of African American poet, Phillis Wheatley. Provides two portraits, and a sample page from Wheatley's collection of poems.