Black Voices in Poetry

Update: What a fantastic day. Our young poets showed up and showed out today during our Black History Month Poetry Slam! Being able to experience their passion and insight through their original poetry was truly an honor.

Poetry is empowering. It can show students how people express themselves, push them to consider their own identities, and inspire them to seek social change. It allows us to experience the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of others. 


Black history has been both a subject and a muse for African American poets, who have lamented the foundational trauma of slavery and subsequent violence as they've celebrated the achievements of the Civil Rights Movement, the election of the first Black president, and above all, the legacy of endurance, resistance, and grace of a culture that is central to American identity. 


Through our Black History Month Poetry Slam, we hope to honor that with poetry that examines this year’s theme of celebrating representation, identity, and diversity. I appreciate our youth poets who are stepping outside of their comfort zones to express themselves and their voices during this event.

If you would like to learn more about Black History through poetry or are interested in writing your own: