Browse the work of at least 5 of these poets, and find one whose voice speaks to you:
Maya Angelou Gwendolyn Brooks Staceyann Chin
Lucille Clifton Rita Dove Nikky Finney Nikki Giovanni
Lauryn Hill June Jordan Sarah Kay Audre Lorde
Lin Manuel Miranda Anis Mojgani Naomi Shihab Nye Jamal Parker
Claudia Rankine Danez Smith Tupac Shakur Ntozanke Shange
Tracy K. Smith Paul Tran Crystal Valentine
Nayyirah Waheed Alice Walker
Cason - Danez Smith
Brayden - Lin Manuel Miranda
Anna - Staceyann Chin or Lauryn Hill
Cliff - Paul Tran
Nate - Jamal Parker
Ava - Sarah Kay
Luna - Audre Lorde
Kailee - Tupac
Aaron - Anis Mojgani
1. Send us links to the three poems you want us to read.
2. Read us one of the poems, and explain:
a. enough about the poet's biography that we know where s/he is coming from.
b. why you chose this poet.
c. what this favorite poem is about, and why it's important to you.
d. two different specific, crazy-good phrases or images. What's deep about each?
e. what issue(s) is important to this poet, and what message the poet sends about it.
f. a connection between this author and any other American author we've studied.
(Make a slide presentation to guide us, and lead discussion.)
3. Read the poem again. Now we'll REALLY hear it.
4. For your portfolio, write a poem in the style and/or with the concerns of your poet. Share it with all of us.
Roger - Staceyann Chin or Anis Mojgani
Bradley - Paul Tran
Ina - Alice Walker
Vie - Gwendolyn Brooks or Rita Dove
Rock - Tupak Shakur
River - Lin Manuel Miranda
Pallen - Nayyirah Wahid
DC - Maya Angelou
Kaden - Lucille Clifton
Riley - Naomi Shahib Nye
Colin - June Jordan
Charlie - Sarah Kay