Afterimage By Audre Lorde (Grades 10+)

***Warning: This poem talks about sexual assult and the murder of Emmett Till***

A self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” Audre Lorde dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. Lorde was born in New York City to West Indian immigrant parents. She attended Catholic schools before graduating from Hunter High School and published her first poem in Seventeen magazine while still a student there. SHe started to write poetry around the age of thrirteen. She had two children with her husband, Edwin Rollins, a white, gay man, before they divorced in 1970. Lorde later began teaching at Tougaloo. Her experiences with teaching and pedagogy—as well as her place as a Black, queer woman in white academia—went on to inform her life and work.

This poem focuses on the horrendous murder of Emmett Till. Emmett Till was a 14 year old African American boy who was abducted, tortured, and lynched in Mississippi in 1955. His story is very important, however it is very hard to read and learn about.

We Real Cool By Gwendolyn Brooks (Grades 7-9)

One of the most influential figures of the Harlem Renaissance, Gwendolyn Brooks wrote on the ordinary people around her, celebrating their lives and struggles. "We Real Cool" is one such poem--employing AAVE and situations from the quotidian lives of average African American teenagers in the city, Brooks both uplifts these often hidden stories, and laments at lost possibilities for these young people due to the unspoken discriminatory economical and political conditions that surrounds this poem.

Love that Boy By Walter Dean Myers (Grades 4-6)

Growing up in West Virgia and Harlem, Walter Dean Myers experienced both the agragarian as well as the metropolitan life Black teen. However, it wasn't after reading James Baldwin's short story "Sonny's Blues" did he begin to draw from his personal history for his writing. "Love that Boy", one of Myer's best known poems, is one such poem--exhibiting the simplicity of childhood, repetition and speech patterns of those in his childhood, and the love and secure attachment of the speakers family/

The Undefeated By Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Grades 1-3)

The Undefeated is a National Book Award nominee, Newbery Honor, and Caldecott Medal-winning picture book written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Alexander's The Undefeated is a powerful tribute to Black Life in the United States, delving into the oppression of trauma of slavery and the preserverance of African-Americans in the Civil Rights movement and their continued fight against oppression. The Undefeated also highlights many of America's past and current black heroes, including Muhammed Ali, Wilma Rudolph, and Serena Willaims and is sprinkled with literary references to Martin Luther King Jr., Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and other black writers. Coupled with Nelson's evocative imagery highlighting the trials and tribulations of the fight for freedom and equality, The Undefeated delivers a compelling and inspiring story of black history in America.

Adrenaline Rush By Rudy Francisco (Grades 10+)

Rudy Francisco is an established Black American poet. He has been published and presented on several notable platforms, such as Button Poetry and Write About Now Poetry. He was also the first spoken word poet to perform on The Tonight Show hosted by Jimmy Fallon. Rudy's work is characterized by a conversational yet incendiary poetic style which is equally matched in his verbal performances. He has written on subjects varying from racism, love, religion, and much more. His works include two full-length poetry collections, Helium and I'll Fly Away. His poem "Adrenaline Rush" satirizes the idea of extreme sports and likens it to an expression of white privilege, going on to retell the harrowing experience of being stopped on the road as a black man. He leaves the audience with a powerful, thought-provoking idea: "it must be nice to feel so safe, you have to invent new ways to put yourself in danger."

A Place in the Country By Toi Derricotte (Grade 7-9)

Toi Dericotte is the author of numerous poetry collections, including “The Empress of the Death House” and “I,” earning numerous awards from the 2020 Frost Medal by the Poetry Society of America and the Wallace Stevens 2021 Award by the Academy of American Poets. She was also the Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets between 2012-2017. Her poem, “A Place in the Country,” tells the story of the struggles that African American citizens face when dealing with common tasks, like the buying or selling of a house. The book extends the theme of present discrimination against African American citizens.

On Paper By Jacqueline Woodson (Grades 4-6)

American poet-author Jacqueline Woodson is most known for her Newbery and National Book Award winning verse memoir, Brown Girl Dreaming. Born in the American South in Columbus, Ohio, Woodson's work spans themes like childhood, girlhood, coming-of-age as a young African American in America. "on paper" is a poem about empowerment, as the young speaker reminisces on the agency and possibility she felt, writing her full name for the first time.

Life Doesn't Frighten Me By Maya Angelou (Grades 1-3)

“Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” discusses numerous things that may frighten a person, which the speaker is unafraid of, echoing the theme of echoing the title. It urges readers to not be scared of obstacles, and try their best to improve and overcome them. Maya Angelou is most famous for her writings, despite also being an activist and singer. She has written award winning work like the autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” and “On the Pulse of the Morning,” and has received awards like a Grammy, 30 honorary degrees, a Pullitzer, her face on a stamp, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Burning the old year By Naiomi Shihab Nye (Grades 10+)

Sometimes, in order to get a fresh start, a cleansing is needed. A common practice to start the New Year is to have a burning festival to send off the old. Whether it is Dondo-yaki in Japan or Up Helly Aa in Scotland, communities join together to provide a collectie spark for the New Year.

Counting, This New Year’s Morning, What Powers Yet Remain To Me by Jane Hirshfield (Grades 7-9)

Jane Hirshfield was born in New York City on February 24, 1953. A poet, translator, essayist, and editor, she received her BA from Princeton University in its first graduating class to include women, and went on to study at the San Francisco Zen Center.
Hirshfield is also the author of Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World (Alfred A. Knopf, 2015); Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry (HarperCollins, 1997); and an e-book on Matsuo Bashō, titled The Heart of Haiku (2011). She has also edited and co-translated books with Mariko Aratani and Robert Bly.

Someday I’ll Love Ocean Vuong By Ocean Vuong (Grades 4-6)

Ocean Vuong, born on October 14, 1988, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a celebrated Vietnamese-American poet, essayist, and novelist. Emigrating to the United States as a child, Vuong navigated the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language. His debut poetry collection included the introspective poem "Someday I'll Love Ocean Vuong." Vuong has received prestigious awards such as the T.S. Eliot Prize and a Whiting Award. As an openly gay and immigrant writer, Ocean Vuong's work continues to shape discussions on cultural identity and the human condition.

In Kindness By Anne Marie Cline (Grades 1-3)

The best way to start a New Year? Choose to be kind.

Dinner with Jack By Megan Fernandes (Grades 10+)

"Dinner with Jack" comes from Megan Fernandes' poetry compilation I Do Everything I'm Told, published by Tin House in 2023. It is funny, dark and smart, and according to the publisher, "explores disobedience and worship, longing and possessiveness, and nights of wandering cities".

Fernandes was born in Canada and grew up in the United States. She now lives in New York City. This poem is a good example of Fernandes’ dark irreverence, focused as it is on the underbelly of love, and where it fails.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon By Grace Lin (Grades 7-9)

As both a writer and an illustrator, Taiwanese-American Grace Lin has published prolifically, including the Ling & Ting series and the Pacy series of chidren's books. She drew considerable attention for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, which won numerous awards, including a Newbery Honor. The novel is a fantasy-adventure inspired by Chinese folklore, and has two sequels, Starry River of the Sky and When the Sea Turns to Silver.

Alebrijes By Donna Barba Higuera (Grades 4-6)

ALEBRIJES is a dystopian novel set hundreds of years in the future when Earth's ecosystems have been destroyed. When the main character, Leandro, is falsely accused of stealing, he suffers a bizarre punishment: his consciousness is placed inside a hummingbird-shaped drone. Now, he must begin life anew, with his mind inside a tiny metal animal...

Donna Barba Higuera is a Latin-American author who grew up in Central California and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. She has spent her entire life blending folklore with her experiences into stories that fill her imagination. Donna is also the authour of the novels LUPE WONG WON'T DANCE and THE LAST CUENTISTA, which won the Newbery Medal.

I Dream a World By Langston Hughes (Grades 1-3)

It is nice to start a New Year with new hope, even if so many things seem hopeless. To create goals to build something rather than accept what has always been. Langston Hughes reminds us that it is okay to dream.

The Land of Begining Again By Louisa Fletcher (Grades 10+)

The poem, “The Land of Beginning Again” was born in the mind of a troubled young lady named Louisa Fletcher, early in the 20th century. Louisa’s life had been tumultuous at best. Her first husband, the famous poet, Booth Tarkington, was a desperate alcoholic, and their marriage ended in divorce after only a few years, but another marriage soon presented her with a daughter. That child however, was born schizophrenic, ending her young life at the age of 16. A year later Louisa wrote this poem, and shortly thereafter, died herself. The grief of a troubled life is evident between the lines. A life that sought a better station is clear, a place where deeds were forgiven and things became new.

The Hill We Climb By Amanda Gorman (Grades 7-9)

"The Hill We Climb" by Amanda Gorman is a powerful and uplifting poem that addresses the challenges and aspirations of a nation. Gorman, gained widespread acclaim for her performance of this poem at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Beyond her remarkable delivery, Amanda Gorman's accomplishments include being named the first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017. In her work, she explores themes of unity, resilience, and the possibility of positive change, reflecting on America's historical struggles while emphasizing collective responsibility for a better future. The poet's use of vivid imagery and a hopeful tone celebrates strength in facing adversity and working together.

Your Mission By Ellen M H Gates (Grades 4-6)

Ellen M H Gates was born in Conneticuit in 1835. She began writing poems and hymns which were published in various magazines and in her published books including Night, At Noontide, The Treasures of Kurium, and To the Unborn Peoples. Her hymn "your mission" has been sung by many people, inlcuding the group Philip Philips, The Singing Pilgrim, Philip H. Phillips and company, Cincinnati. Abraham Lincoln heard the Cincinnati randision, and it became one of his favourite hymns.

The Giving Snowman: A Children's Bedtime Story about Gratitude By Julia Zheng (Grades 1-3)

The Giving Snowman by Julia Zheng is a story about kindness and gratitude. A generous Snowman selflessly helps a Bird, Rabbit, Farmer, and Traveler when they are in need. When the Snowman faces his own hardship, Bird, Rabbit, Farmer and Traveler band together to help out their friend. Julia Zheng is a children's author from Fujian, China. She studied English and Western Culture and Nanchang University, and now lives in Massachusetts. Zheng writes children's books with humour, warmth, and twist endings.