10 Black Poets You Should Know on Black Poetry Day

Black Poetry Day (October 17) honors the voices that shaped language, rhythm, and resistance.

This day celebrates the power of words. It also triumphs the storytellers who carried generations forward. Whether jotted in loose-leaf notebooks or typed on iPads or MacBooks, poetry is powerful. So today we salute the legends.

From Harlem to today’s classrooms, Black poets have used verse to teach, heal, and inspire. Their work speaks about love, struggle, and freedom in ways that never fade.

Each poet on this list changed the way people see language and emotion. A subtle yet powerful reminder that poetry isn’t just art. It’s culture, history, and truth in motion.

Here are 10 Black poets you should know on Black Poetry Day.

Langston Hughes

Hughes helped define the Harlem Renaissance and made poetry feel like music. His words about dreams, struggle, and hope still inspire new generations.

Maya Angelou

Angelou’s poetry blended courage, rhythm, and truth. Her classic “Still I Rise” remains one of the most powerful declarations of strength ever written.

Gwendolyn Brooks

Brooks wrote about everyday Black life with honesty and rhythm. Her Pulitzer Prize win broke barriers and opened doors for countless poets after her.

Amiri Baraka

Baraka’s voice roared with activism and art. He pushed poetry into politics, making language a weapon for social change during the Black Arts Movement.

June Jordan

Jordan celebrated identity and language in every form. She showed that poetry could be bold, political, and deeply personal at the same time.

Audre Lorde

Lorde’s words spoke for those rarely heard. She wrote about womanhood, queerness, and race with power that continues to echo through generations.

Nikki Giovanni

Giovanni’s poems radiate love, joy, and truth. She helped shape the Black Arts era and still connects deeply with readers, young and old.

Rita Dove

Dove’s lyrical storytelling earned her the title of U.S. Poet Laureate. She weaves history and emotion into verses that feel timeless and human.

Claudia Rankine

Rankine reshaped modern poetry by merging prose and reflection. Her work “Citizen” explores identity, race, and the everyday weight of injustice.

Hanif Abdurraqib

Abdurraqib connects poetry, music, and memory like few others. The Columbus native writes with heart, rhythm, and a deep respect for culture.

From past to present, Black poets have shaped how the world understands rhythm, resilience, and truth. Their work continues to inspire new generations of writers, thinkers, and dreamers. As you celebrate today, take a moment to read their words and feel the power they still carry.

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