Famous Black Poets

Maya AngelouMaya Angelou
04 April 1928, American
Poet
Langston HughesLangston Hughes
01 February 1902, American
Poet, Novelist, Playwright, & Columnist

Chirlane McCrayChirlane McCray
29 November 1954, American
Writer, Social Activist

Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieChimamanda Ngozi Adichie
15 September 1977, Nigerian
Writer

Audre LordeAudre Lorde
18 February 1934, American
Writer

Chinua AchebeChinua Achebe
16 November 1930, Nigerian
Nigerian novelist
Ron Cephas JonesRon Cephas Jones
08 January 1957, American
Actor

Amiri BarakaAmiri Baraka
07 October 1934, American
Writer

Phillis Wheatley Phillis Wheatley
08 May 1753, American
Poet
James Weldon JohnsonJames Weldon Johnson
17 June 1871, American
Author

Saul WilliamsSaul Williams
29 February 1972, American
Singer, Musician, Poet
Gwendolyn BrooksGwendolyn Brooks
07 June 1917, American
Poet

Derek WalcottDerek Walcott
23 January 1930, Saint Lucian
Poet

Paul Laurence DunbarPaul Laurence Dunbar
27 June 1872, American
Poet

Claude McKayClaude McKay
15 September 1889, Jamaican, American
Writer

Lucille CliftonLucille Clifton
27 June 1936, American
American poet
Robert HaydenRobert Hayden
04 August 1913, American
Poet, Essayist, Educator

James AveryJames Avery
27 November 1945, American
Film actor

Jill ScottJill Scott
04 April 1972, American
Singer-songwriter

Gil Scott-HeronGil Scott-Heron
01 April 1949, American
Singer, Writer, Composer, Poet, Pianist
Nikki GiovanniNikki Giovanni
07 June 1943, American
Poet, Writer

Michaela CoelMichaela Coel
01 October 1987, Ghanaian, British
Actress
Bernie CaseyBernie Casey
08 June 1939, American
Actor

Ken Saro-WiwaKen Saro-Wiwa
10 October 1941, Nigerian
Writer, Poet, Screenwriter

Countee CullenCountee Cullen
30 May 1903
American poet
Terry McMillanTerry McMillan
18 October 1951, American
American author

Ben OkriBen Okri
15 March 1959, Nigerian
Writer, Journalist, Novelist, Author, Poet
Keorapetse KgositsileKeorapetse Kgositsile
19 September 1938, South African
Poet, Journalist, Writer

Ishmael ReedIshmael Reed
22 February 1938, American
Poet

Rita DoveRita Dove
28 August 1952, American
Poet, Writer
June Millicent JordanJune Jordan
09 July 1936, American
Poet

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Ernest J. GainesErnest J. Gaines
15 January 1933, American
Author, Educator
Kamau BrathwaiteKamau Brathwaite
11 May 1930, Barbadian
Poet

Francis BebeyFrancis Bebey
15 July 1929, Cameroonian
Writer

Yusef KomunyakaaYusef Komunyakaa
29 April 1947, American
Poet

Dambudzo MarecheraDambudzo Marechera
04 June 1952, Zimbabwean
Novelist
Natasha TretheweyNatasha Trethewey
26 April 1966, American
Poet
David DrakeDavid Drake
1800 AD, American
Potter and poet

Alice Dunbar NelsonAlice Dunbar Nelson
19 July 1875, American
Poet

Gabriel OkaraGabriel Okara
24 April 1921, Nigerian
Poet

Christopher OkigboChristopher Okigbo
16 August 1932, Nigerian
Poet
Ayi Kwei ArmahAyi Kwei Armah
28 October 1939, Ghanaian
Writer

Bob KaufmanBob Kaufman
18 April 1925, American
Poet

Kofi AwoonorKofi Awoonor
13 March 1935, Ghanaian
Poet

Charlotte Forten GrimkéCharlotte Forten Grimké
17 August 1837, American
Poet

Dennis BrutusDennis Brutus
28 November 1924, South African
Author
Okwui EnwezorOkwui Enwezor
23 October 1963, Nigerian
Curator

George LammingGeorge Lamming
08 June 1927, Barbadian
Novelist
Henry DumasHenry Dumas
20 July 1934, American
Writer

David DiopDavid Diop
09 July 1927, French
Poet

Jayne CortezJayne Cortez
10 May 1934, American
Poet
Etheridge KnightEtheridge Knight
19 April 1931, American
Poet

Alexis KagameAlexis Kagame
15 May 1912, Rwandan
Philosopher
Lewis NkosiLewis Nkosi
05 December 1936, South African
Author

Lucy Terry PrinceLucy Terry
1730 AD
Poet

Benedict Wallet VilakaziBenedict Wallet Vilakazi
06 January 1906, South African
Author

Abdias do NascimentoAbdias do Nascimento
14 March 1914, Brazilian
Scholar

Haki R. MadhubutiHaki R. Madhubuti
23 February 1942, American
Author
Bernard Binlin DadiéBernard Binlin Dadié
10 January 1916, South African
Novelist

Malangatana NgwenyaMalangatana Ngwenya
06 June 1936, Mozambican
Painter

Mário Pinto de AndradeMário Pinto de Andrade
21 August 1928, Angolan
Poet

Mari EvansMari Evans
16 July 1923, American
Poet
Birago DiopBirago Diop
11 December 1906, Senegalese
Poet

George Moses HortonGeorge Moses Horton
1798 AD, American
Poet
Michael S. HarperMichael S. Harper
18 March 1938, American
Poet

Nnimmo BasseyNnimmo Bassey
Nigerian
 

Owen DodsonOwen Dodson
28 November 1914, American
Poet
Euphrase KezilahabiEuphrase Kezilahabi
13 April 1944, Tanzanian
Novelist

Davidson NicolDavidson Nicol
14 September 1924, Sierra Leonean
Diplomat
Sterling BrownSterling Brown
01 May 1901, American
Professor

Aime CesaireAime Cesaire
26 June 1913, French
Poet

Melvin TolsonMelvin Tolson
06 February 1898, American
Poet
Mathias E. MnyampalaMathias E. Mnyampala
18 November 1917, Tanzanian
Writer

Sony Labou TansiSony Labou Tansi
05 June 1947, Congolese
Novelist
Taban lo LiyongTaban lo Liyong
1938 AD, Sudanese, Ugandan
Poet

Jean-Joseph RabéariveloJean-Joseph Rabéarivelo
04 March 1901, Malagasy, South African
Poet

Okot p'BitekOkot p'Bitek
07 June 1931, Ugandan
Poet

Oscar Cicero Brown, Jr.Oscar Cicero Brown, Jr.
10 October 1926, American
Singer-songwriter