Roberth Hayden once said that he considered himself to be “a poet who teaches in order to earn a living so that he can write a poem or two now and then.” He taught at Fisk University for more than twenty years and ended his career with an eleven-year stint at the University of Michigan. He wrote about Black experience and history.

Ada Limón grew up in Sonoma, California and now lives in Lexington, Kentucky where she writes, teaches remotely, and hosts the critically-acclaimed poetry podcast, The Slowdown. Limón is the author of six books of poetry, including The Carrying, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry.

Queer spoken word poet They/Them explores themes of gender identity using popular culture references and personal stories.

Rosa Chávez is a Maya K’iche’-Kaqchikel poet, educator, and artivist. The author of five poetry books, her work has been widely anthologized and translated into Maya K’iche’, French, English, and Norwegian, among other languages. Poem available in Spanish.

Micah Bournes, a poet and musician from Long Beach, writes about being Black in the United States. His first love is hip hop; he cites artists like Nate Dogg and Warren G as early inspirations.

"Make a copy" of the following activity and use to takes notes over the poems you read.