October 26, 1947 Benedict Wallet Vilakazi, poet, novelist and educator, died. Vilakazi was born Bambatha kaMshini Vilakazi on January 6, 1906 near KwaDukuza, Natal (now South Africa). At the age of ten, he was baptized and given the name Benedict Wallet. He earned his teaching certificate in 1923 and taught at several schools.
Tag Archives | poet
September 9th in African American History – Wilsonia Benita Driver (Sonia Sanchez)
September 9, 1934 Wilsonia Benita Driver (Sonia Sanchez), poet and playwright, was born in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1943, Sanchez moved to Harlem, New York to live with her father. In 1955, she earned a Bachelor of Art degree in Political Science from Hunter College. Later she completed postgraduate work at New York University.
August 29th in African American History – Melvin Beaunorus Tolson
August 29, 1966 Melvin Beaunorus Tolson, educator and poet, died. Tolson was born February 6, 1898 in Moberly, Missouri. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Lincoln University in 1923 and his Master of Arts degree in English and comparative literature from Columbia University in 1940.
August 5th in African American History – Dudley Randall
August 5, 2000 Dudley Randall, founder of Broadside Press, died. Randall was born January 14, 1914 in Washington, D. C. but raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 13, his first published poem was printed in the Detroit Free Press newspaper. After serving in the military during World War II, Randall earned a Bachelor […]
July 20th in African American History – Okot p’Bitek
July 20, 1982 Okot p’Bitek, internationally recognized Ugandan poet, died. Okot was born in 1931 in Gulu, Uganda. He was educated at King’s College, Budo and later studied education at the University of Bristol and then law at the University of Wales. In 1963, he earned his Bachelor of Letters degree in social anthropology at […]
June 4th in African American History – Arna Wendell Bontemps
June 4, 1973 Arna Wendell Bontemps, poet and noted member of the Harlem Renaissance, died. Bontemps was born October 13, 1902 in Alexandria, Louisiana. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College in 1923 and moved to New York City to teach. In 1943, after graduating from the University of Chicago with a Masters […]
May 22nd in African American History – Claude McKay
May 22, 1948 Claude McKay, writer and poet, died. McKay was born September 15, 1889 in James Hill, Clarendon, Jamaica. He started writing poetry at the age of ten. McKay published his first book of poems, “Songs of Jamaica,” in 1912. McKay emerged as one of the first and most militant voices of the Harlem […]