The Black Poets [Paperback]

Dudley Randall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1985

"The claim of The Black Poets  to being... an anthology is that it  presents the full range of Black-American poetry,  from the slave songs to the present day. It is  important that folk poetry be included because it is  the root and inspiration of later, literary  poetry. Not only does this book present the full range  of Black poetry, but it presents most poets in  depths, and in some cases presents aspects of a poet  neglected or overlooked before. Gwendolyn Brooks  is represented not only by poems on racial and  domestic themes, but is revealed as a writer of  superb love lyrics. Tuming away from White models and  retuming to their roots has freed Black poets to  create a new poetry. This book records their  progress."--from the Introduction by Dudley  Randall

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"The claim of The Black Poets to being... an anthology is that it presents the full range of Black-American poetry, from the slave songs to the present day. It is important that folk poetry be included because it is the root and inspiration of later, literary poetry. Not only does this book present the full range of Black poetry, but it presents most poets in depths, and in some cases presents aspects of a poet neglected or overlooked before. Gwendolyn Brooks is represented not only by poems on racial and domestic themes, but is revealed as a writer of superb love lyrics. Turning away from White models and returning to their roots has freed Black poets to create a new poetry. This book records their progress."--from the Introduction by Dudley Randall

From the Inside Flap

"The claim of The Black Poets  to being... an anthology is that it  presents the full range of Black-American poetry,  from the slave songs to the present day. It is  important that folk poetry be included because it is  the root and inspiration of later, literary  poetry. Not only does this book present the full range  of Black poetry, but it presents most poets in  depths, and in some cases presents aspects of a poet  neglected or overlooked before. Gwendolyn Brooks  is represented not only by poems on racial and  domestic themes, but is revealed as a writer of  superb love lyrics. Tuming away from White models and  retuming to their roots has freed Black poets to  create a new poetry. This book records their  progress."--from the Introduction by Dudley  Randall

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (April 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553275631
• ISBN-13: 978-0553275636
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Anthologies
  • #51 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Single Authors > United States
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > United States > Poetry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Black Poetry Brought to Life", April 28, 1999

By 

Dr. Mark Anthony Neal (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Poets (Paperback)

I was introduced to this text as an black poetry starved undergraduate about 15 years ago. It simply mesmerized me...was literally a book that I carried around in my pocket for years. Now as a professor of Africana Studies and English, I almost feel priveleged to share this book with my students as some are mesmerized for the first time and I get mesmerized again and again. Dudley Randall remains one of the overlooked giants of black literature...not so much for his own work, but his commitment to building the canon, like his work at Broadside Press with then young poets like Sonia Sanchez and Don. L. Lee (Haki Madhubuti) and this volume of poetry.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I laughed, I cried, I reflected, and I learned, August 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Black Poets (Paperback)

This book was required reading for a graduate class that I had, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was simply great. I was introduced to many poets whom I'd never heard of and that was the best part, because I feel that many Blacks don't know about poets who were not mainstream, this leaves a lot of important writers to dangle in the wind without every being recognized by the very people for whom they wrote. This book was great in particular I liked the seculars they were hilarious, they reminded me of the epitaths we used to read in American Lit in high school. Great little book!!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Poetry and Historical Account, April 30, 2006

By 

Trilogy Poetry Review "Joseph S. Spence, Sr.,... (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Poets (Paperback)

I am an author and a poet and will state that this is an excellent job by Dudley Randall. The poems in this anthology flow very well. The section on the Harlem Renaissance is very pleasing; know the struggles encountered and the determination of will to succeed, the poets during that era showed strength and courage and are well documented. The book is a history lesson in itself regarding poets of the past and present. There is a distinct contrasting of poets who are classified as folk and literary poets. The additional distinction between pre-renaissance and post-renaissance poets is also made in the book. Overall, the poems from poets in the anthology are outstanding and give a great blending of African-American History.