Must Read Poetry Books by Black/African-American Women
By: Katerina Canyon
Tags: Women, Black Women, Writing, Poetry, African American

I often get asked for poetry book recommendations, and since we are in the middle of Women’s History Month, and we just finished Black History Month, I thought it would be a good idea to share a list of recommended poetry books by black women. I chose a wide range of books. If you would like to suggest a book, please leave a message at the end of this article.

We Are Shining by Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks is the quintessential African-American poet. Brooks has an impressive body of work. Out of those works, I chose to recommend her children’s book We Are Shining. I love this children’s book. It is a story of humanity and emphasizes appreciating one another for our differences. We Are Shining speaks to children of all nationalities and connects them by their similarities.

Wade in the Water by Tracy K. Smith

Wade in the Water is a powerful collection of poems by Tracy K. Smith. In this work, Smith delves into the emotions of being a woman. While, I would not call this a religious collection of poems, it has many religious overtones. Smith makes it work without overwhelming the reader with the concept of God. After all, I think that you cannot separate the identity of women without examining womanhood and its religious conceptions and ideals. Smith has many beautiful poems in this work, my favorite being the title poem “Wade in the Water.”

Maya Angelou by Maya Angelou

Of course, no collection of poetry favorites would be complete without the grande dame of poetry, Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou helped bring poetry into the mainstream. Her “Caged Bird” poem has to be one of the more popular poems in American history. I cannot think of a person who is unfamiliar with her book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Caged Bird is far more well known than the book I chose for this list, “Maya Angelou.” This is a book that is a celebration of all the stages of life from childhood to advanced ages. It is definitely a great book for any age. I like this book because it includes a mini-biography, Angelou’s more popular poems, and it includes little life lessons with each poem.

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

Citizen: An American Lyric reads as a deeply personal piece that examines the African-American experience. This book includes three lyric poems and a play. This was a multiple prize-winning book, and it was a finalist for the National Book Award. I like this book because it reminds me of the the stings and barbs you receive while getting along as a black person in American society. It addresses how we need to cope and move on.

Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral by Phillis Wheatley.

Phillis Wheatley is the first published African-American female poet, and Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral is the first book she published. This book rubs against my political grain at times as Wheatley expresses gratitude for being rescued from Africa by her slave owners. However, she served as a catalyst for abolition because she proved to others that blacks have the same intellectual capabilities as whites.

Maya Angelou The Complete Poetry

I know this is the second Maya Angelou book, but I didn’t call her the grande dame of poetry for nothing. This collection is everything Maya Angelou. It has poems from all of her collections, including her more popular poems and essays. If you can only get one Maya Angelou book, this is the one. This will be the go to book of your poetry collection.

One word comes to mind when I think of Audre Lorde, “powerful.” Lorde described herself as a “black, lesbian warrior poet.” I would be remiss if I did not recommend reading her essays, as well. Lorde puts together spectacular similes and metaphors. Her words mix together to give you a sense of urgency and explosiveness. Her poems address feminism and femininity, racism, oppression, and homophobia. She does a wonderful job of showing you the world through her eyes.

Magical Negro by Morgan Parker

This is one of the sharpest modern collections of poetry out there. Parker’s work is brilliant and humorous. I must admit that I did not get some of her poems the first go around, and I had to read them again. Her poems will definitely stay with you. Her titles are winners as well. As a poet, I often find the titles the most challenging part. Hers are inspired. I love her poem, “A Brief History of the Present” purely for its ironic nature. Seriously, read this book now.

Nikki Giovanni: A Good Cry

Nikki Giovanni will always sit on my list of favorite poets, and her latest book A Good Cry cements that idea. My favorite poems in this collection are “Baby West” and “Bears in Spring”. “Baby West” is a beautifully written poem about the struggles of her childhood. “Bears in Spring” has absolutely nothing to do with bears and is strongly political without being in your face political. Giovanni’s poetry speaks to the experiences of her life, and she does an adept job in conveying emotions. Her lines are clean and crisp, and her poems take you back to a place and time that many would sooner forget. She is a poet historian in the truest sense of the idea.

Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire is a short collection but it carries quite a blow. It is unlike any collection I have ever read. Shire’s poetry is strong and direct. Her writing covers birth, development into womanhood, immigration, and family. Her language is direct and energetic. Her verse pushes you on a see-saw of emotions. You can begin one poem thinking you’re headed in one direction, but then Shire turns around and takes you to a place you did not expect. Every poem in this book carries you into Shire’s world, which is one of abandonment, pain, and grief. This is a powerfully political work combined with a reflective familial bent. This work draws you in. It takes you into a world of blood, bone, fire and beauty. If you don’t understand what I mean by this, you will just have to read the book to find out. This is a book that above all deserves to be on this list. There is not a single weak poem in this collection.

Lucille Clifton speaks to the darkest parts of being human. Her book, Blessing the Boats uncovers the fragility of the human condition. This book covers the issue of death, dying, and loss, along with the emotions that go into these issues. Actually, you would be well served if you came across and read any of Lucille Clifton’s books. The woman is pure genius.

There are many African-American women poets worth noting that I did not cover here. Please feel free to leave me a note below to discuss. In making this list, I attempted to provide a broad range of styles, including children books, so that there could be something to appeal to a diverse group of people.

Katerina Canyon is a writer currently living in Seattle, Washington. She served as Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga, California from 2000 to 2003. She has a MALD from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a BA in English, Creative Writing, and International Studies from Saint Louis University. She has been published in the New York Times and Huffington Post. Her most recent poetry was published in From Whispers to Roars. Her latest collection Changing the Lines is currently available on Amazon and Elliott Bay Book Company. You can learn more about Katerina at PoeticKat.com.