FOR AGES 1 YEARS TO 99 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Black Poetry Day is a national event in the United States and is celebrated throughout the country.
Every American poet and literature enthusiast celebrates National Black Poetry Day on October 17 every year.
National Black Poetry Day began in 1985.
The creator of National Black Poetry Day remains unidentified. However, Stanely A Ransom was the first person to propose a day to celebrate black literature and culture.
African-American literature has a long and exciting history. Here, we will see some major historical events that led to the foundation of National Black Poetry Day.
Black poetry and literature became popular in the United States in the 18th century. In 1761, Jupiter Hammon became the first black poet to publish a literary work. He published his first poem, 'An Evening Thought: Salvation By Christ With Penitential Cries'. Hammon not only achieved something unprecedented but also became an inspiration for other black authors in the country.
Following this, many black poets started publishing their works. The first one is Phillis Wheatley. She published her first poem in 1770 and her first volume of verses in 1773. Du Bois was another famous black poet. He studied at Harvard University and became the first African-American to get a doctorate. Later, Du Bois published poems like 'The Song Of The Smoke' and 'Ghana Calls'.
Robert Hayden is the next poet on our list. He was born on August 4, 1913, and went to the University of Michigan. He was the first African-American to assume the post of Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress. He held office for two years, from 1976-1978. As a poet, he is famous for writing 'Those Winter Sundays'.
The next one is Alice Walker. She was the one who first coined the term womanist. In her literary works, she mostly dealt with the suffering and experiences of Black Americans, especially women. She is most popular for her debut poetry collection, 'Once'. She is also the author of 'The Color Purple'.
Lucille Clifton is the former Poet Laureate of Maryland. In addition to that, she has also been the finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for poetry twice. In 1980, she received the Juniper Prize for 'Two Headed Woman'. The collection contained some of her best poems. Gwendolyn Brooks was born on June 7, 1917. Her most celebrated work was 'Annie Allen', a poetry collection. In 1950, she became the first African-American poet to receive the Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
The last author on our list is Haki R. Madhubuti. He is the writer of nearly 30 published works. In addition, he is also the recipient of 1991 American Book Award. In 1967, he co-founded Third World Press, America's oldest independent black publishing house. Over the years, Third World Press has published authors like Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, and Gwendolyn Brooks. Reminiscing and getting to understand the works of these authors is a great way to follow this tradition.
The best way to celebrate this day is to host a poetry reading. Invite all your friends and acquaintances to this program. Who knows, maybe this poetry reading session will help you discover some underrated poets.
Discovering and supporting aspiring black poets can also be a great way to celebrate this event. Go to a library or a bookstore and read the works of young black poets. If you want, you can also donate to a black literary magazine.
It is an American national day to celebrate black literature and culture.
In addition to celebrating black heritage, National Black Poetry Day also aims to inspire and encourage talented black poets.
People celebrate Black Poetry Day to appreciate the contributions of all African-American writers to the growth of American poetry.
National Black Poetry Day makes a positive impact on young, aspiring poets. The event encourages them to achieve something great in life.
Date | Day |
---|---|
October 17, 2021 | Sunday |
October 17, 2022 | Monday |
October 17, 2023 | Tuesday |
October 17, 2024 | Thursday |
October 17, 2025 | Friday |
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/black-poetry-day-october-17/
https://nationaltoday.com/black-poetry-day/
https://www.readpoetry.com/celebrate-black-poetry-day-with-200-years-of-world-changing-black-poets/
https://www.nationaldaystoday.com/black-poetry-day/
https://booktrib.com/2021/10/15/a-brief-primer-for-black-poetry-day/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haki_R._Madhubuti#Awards_and_honors
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.