Two magnificent poets died on January 9, 68 years apart, one died on January 9, 1946, Countee Cullen was one of the driving forces of the Harlem Renaissance, the other great black poet Amira Baraka died on January 9, 2014, was one of the driving forces of the Black Arts Movement. Two exceptionally talented black men who spoke directly to the communities of blacks that supported them. I would like to celebrate the works of both artists as I read from some of their more popular creations on my blog today. Next, the black poet of Newark, New Jersey, Amira Baraka who agitation towards injustice forced our black communities to confront that injustice directly. Beyond Amira Baraka’s words was a passion for direct action.

JANUARY 9, 2014 on this day Amiri Baraka joined the ancestral literary giants of blackness. This afternoon I salute his greatness.

This Work Shook The Entire State Of New Jersey And The Nation in 2001. Amiri Baraka​ revealed his thoughts on the destruction of America in 2001, ​the ​destruction that was in his words 400 years in the making. So, if you aren’t looking for a pollyanna perspective of provoked ​thought. Go to my blog for this morning’s in his words, my voice, Amiri Baraka’s, Somebody Blew Up America. As I continue to journey on our black history need not be a black mystery.

Two magnificent poets died on January 9, 68 years apart, one died on January 9, 1946, Countee Cullen was one of the driving forces of the Harlem Renaissance, the other great black poet Amira Baraka died on January 9, 2014, was one of the driving forces of the Black Arts Movement. Two exceptionally talented black men who spoke directly to the communities of blacks that supported them. I would like to celebrate the works of both artists as I read from some of their more popular creations on my blog today. First, the mercurial Countee Cullen who lifestyle caused him many problems in his 42 years of life.


The history of blacks includes many inspiring artists who laid claim to defined brilliance and excellence. One of these individuals was Countee Cullen, whose words created magic on the pages he decorated with incredible letters of profound truth. Quick question, who was the only man to marry a Dubois and teach a Baldwin? Why, Countee Cullen, who married the daughter of WEB DuBois, Yolande DuBois and taught High School French to James Baldwin.

This master ancestor was sometimes overlooked by two of his contemporaries Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston during the marvelous age of the Harlem Renaissance. However, ​his impact on the literary community during that period of time was quite legendary. , I intend to pay special homage to Mr. Cullen, who faced life’s challenges of racism and prejudice but still managed to excel and produce fantastic works of written art.

Mr. Cullen’s life was swirled in controversy but his poetic verses rose above those circumstances as his measured greatness were magnified by his creation of verse. As we move along day by day, remember this, our black history need not ever be a black mystery.

Born January 7, 1901
Letter To the Editor
Orlando Sentinel
August 11, 1955
The Blackman Reads Our Black History Aloud

Zora Neale Hurston was born 119 years ago today. Zora was an amazing writer of fiction that detailed with realism of struggles, obstacles, and hardships that living black in this nation in the early and mid 20th Century was all about. Zora also spoke for the folklore that was transmitted in the southern black southern towns and cities. From Her Eyes Were Watching God which is considered one of the finest pieces of literature ever written to the recently released book Baracoon which detailed the life of the last African stolen into slavery. You have to marvel at the genius of this amazing woman.

One thing that Zora Neale Hurston didn’t agree with was the 1954 Brown versus the Board of Education Supreme Court decision that outlawed segregation in public schools across the country. Zora Neale Hurston simply and quite powerfully disagreed that black children were harmed in the segregated classrooms. She felt given the adequate resources black children would prosper in all black classrooms. Our black children do not need white children to reach levels of academic excellence.

Today as I celebrate the birthday of the Eatonsville, Florida native by reading her powerful letter to the editor of the Orlando Sentinel regarding her opposition to public school integration. This nation continues to struggle with true integrated schools and with educational inequality in many of our schools in 2020. The question asked and answered by Zora Neale Hurston is still troubling our nation. How do we fix racial inequality in this country’s institutions?

Ancestor Zora Neale Hurston was a remarkable intellectual whose anthropological​ finding related​ to our black ancestors from the south was ground-breaking. Zora Neale Hurston's findings uncovered the layers of black folk-art history that layered the incredible period of the Harlem Renaissance. Today, I salute Zora Neale Hurston by reading her historic Letter to the Editor of the Orlando Sentinel written August 11, 1955.