{"product_id":"9781402221118","title":"100 Best African American Poems with CD","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHear voices contemporary and classic as selected by \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ebestselling author Nikki Giovanni\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAward-winning poet and writer Nikki Giovanni takes on the impossible task of selecting the 100 best African American works from classic and contemporary poets. Out of necessity, Giovanni admits she cheats a little, selecting a larger, less round number.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result is this startlingly vibrant collection that spans from historic to modern, from structured to freeform, and reflects the rich roots and visionary future of African American verse. These magnetic poems are an exciting mix of most-loved classics and daring new writing. From Gwendolyn Brooks and Langston Hughes to Tupac Shakur, Natasha Trethewey, and many others, the voice of a culture comes through in this collection, one that is as talented, diverse, and varied as its people.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfrican American poems are like all other poems: beautiful, loving, provocative, thoughtful, and all those other adjectives I can think of. \u003ci\u003ePoems know no boundaries\u003c\/i\u003e. They, like all Earth citizens, were born in some country, grew up on some culture, then in their blooming became citizens of the Universe. \u003ci\u003ePoems fly from heart to heart\u003c\/i\u003e, head to head, to whisper a dream, to share a condolence, to congratulate, and to vow forever. The poems are true. They are translated and they are celebrated. They are sung, they are recited, they are \u003ci\u003edelightful\u003c\/i\u003e. They are neglected. They are forgotten. They are put away. Even in their fallow periods they sprout images. And fight to be revived. And spring back to life with a bit of sunshine and caring. \u003cbr\u003e -Nikki Giovanni\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cu\u003eRead\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eGwendolyn Brooks\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eKwame Alexander\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eTupac Shakur\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLangston Hughes\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eMari Evans\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eKevin Young\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eAsha Bandele\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eAmiri Baraka\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cu\u003eHear\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eRuby Dee\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eNovella Nelson\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eNikki Giovanni\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eElizabeth Alexander\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eMarilyn Nelson\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eSonia Sanchez\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAnd many, many, more\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNikki Giovanni\u003c\/b\u003e is an award-winning poet, writer, and activist. She is the author of more than two dozen books for adults and children, including \u003ci\u003eBicycles\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eQuilting the Black-Eyed Pea\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRacism 101\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBlues: For All the Changes\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLove Poems\u003c\/i\u003e. Her children's book-plus-audio compilation \u003ci\u003eHip Hop Speaks to Children \u003c\/i\u003ewas awarded the NAACP Image Award. Her children's book \u003ci\u003eRosa\u003c\/i\u003e, a picture-book retelling of the Rosa Parks story, was a Caldecott Honor Book and winner of the Coretta Scott King Award. Both books were \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestsellers. Nikki is a Grammy nominee for her spoken-word album \u003ci\u003eThe Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection \u003c\/i\u003eand has been nominated for the National Book Award. She has been voted Woman of the Year by \u003ci\u003eEssence\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMademoiselle\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLadies' Home Journal\u003c\/i\u003e. She is a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, where she teaches writing and literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sourcebooks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47014691799280,"sku":"9781402221118","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781402221118_p0.jpg?v=1764099472","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781402221118","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}