by Carrie Dos Santos –
Black History Month continues with celebrations, discussions, and history lessons online and in-person. Last week, we highlighted a few of the books available at Middlesex County Public Library (MCPL) system libraries in Deltaville and Urbanna that recount historical events and well-known people that have had lasting impacts on our society. This week, we focus on the poetic form and some of the great Black poets of the United States.
Highly recommended MCPL poetry collections include:
• “On the Pulse of Morning” and “Phenomenal Woman,” by Maya Angelou, are two highly influential works by a prolific writer of poetry and prose.
• “Mother Love,” by Rita Dove, focuses on the relationships of mothers and daughters, particularly the relationship of the Greek goddesses Demeter and Persephone.
• “Birmingham, 1963,” by Carole Boston Weatherford, is a powerful fusion of poetry and photography depicting the Birmingham church bombing that killed four girls and forced the nation to again consider the devastating effects of racism.
• “The 100 Best African American Poems,” edited by Nikki Giovanni, contains classic and contemporary poetry, and includes an audio CD of several poems performed from the book.
(Carrie Dos Santos is MCPL executive director.)
