Get to Know These Seven Black Poets You Should Support Today
By Jayy Dodd
Black poetics has been a stronghold and foundation for language as we know it. From flips and cuts in grammar, Black folk (globally) have taken back colonized tongue forming new and necessary vocabularies. We hear it in hip-hop, opinion piece and every other Black medium; poetry is an invaluable resource for the diaspora. Below is a brief selection of Black poets you need to know, watch and support:
1. Cam Awkward Rich
Read: “Filling the New House”
Watch: “A Prude’s Manifesto”
Buy: Transit
2. Morgan Parker
Read: “Beyoncé, touring in Asia, Breaks Down in a White Tee”
Watch: “The History of Black People”
Buy: Other People’s Comfort Keeps Me up at Night
3. Robert Ashley
Read: “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Motherfucker at the Club”
Watch: “23rd Street Anthem”
Buy: the homeboy songs
4. Aziza Barnes
Read: “How To Purchase A Flight”
Watch “Hypnophobia“:
Buy: me Aunt Jemima and the nailgun.
5. Nate Marshall
Read: “on caskets”
Watch: “Look!”
Buy: Wild Hundreds
6. Dominique Christina
Read: “The Period Place”
Watch: “Karma”
Buy: They Are All Me
7. Angel Nafis
Read: “Gravity”
Watch: “Angel’s Heart Clown’s the Ocean”
Buy: Black Girl Mansion
Photo: Cam Awkward-Rich (YouTube)