Poetry
Baltimore Poets
Throughout history, poetry has evolved both in form and themes. From the dramatic epic of Gilgamesh to Amanda Gorman’s spoken poem “The Hill we Climb” recited at President Joseph Biden’s inauguration ceremony, today poetry has been popularized as a form of artistic expression that appeals to the common person. Slam Poetry and Spoken Word have also become popular forms of poetry that especially discuss issues of activism. This section explores Black poets from Baltimore and their contribution to this creative field.
Baltimore’s Poets
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Francis Harper, 1825-1911
As the first African American woman to publish a short story, Francis Harper contributed to the black tradition in the realms of poetry as well as education. Her prose and poetry are abundant with themes of anti-slavery, anti-racism, upliftment of women, independence, and education.
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Lucille Clifton, 1936-2010
In the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance, Lucille Clifton’s work surpasses the boundaries of time as she looks at her present being informed by years of memories and cultures of her ancestors.
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Lady Brion
Lady Brion describes herself as “an international spoken word artist, poetry coach, activist, organizer, and educator.” Brion is an alumnus of Howard University and the University of Baltimore and uses her education for teaching as well as non-profit civic engagement endeavors like organizing poetry workshops.
