A History of African American Poetry (original) (raw)

Abstract

Published in May 2019 by Cambridge University Press, this volume is the only critical history of African American poetry from its origins to the present. Starting with the transatlantic African slave trade, it traces African American poetry from slave songs to today’s award-winning poets. Covering a wide range of styles and forms, canonical figures like Phillis Wheatley and Paul Laurence Dunbar are brought side by side with lesser known poets deserving of greater attention. Calling for a revised and expanded canon, this book shows how some poems were suppressed while others were lauded. In particular, it shows that African American poetry has a history of avant-garde practice from its origins to today. The role of music, women, and art as political action are other central themes. In conceiving of a new canon, it shows the influential role of African American poetry in defining and reflecting the United States at all points in the nation’s history. It contains rare illustrations, poems, and commentary on literary criticism and theory. Written in clear and accessible prose, it will appeal to students at all levels, experts, and general readers.

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