African American poetry since 1976

1976 - Black World magazine, a major venue for the publication of black poetry, ceases publication. 
1976 - Eugene B. Redmond publishes Drumvoices: The Mission of Afro-American Poetry, A Critical Study.
1976 - Robert Hayden appointed Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.
1984 - Eroding Witness (1985) by Nathaniel Mackey, selected by M. Harper as a National Poetry Series Winner.
1985 - Gwendolyn Brooks appointed the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.
1985 - Robert Hayden: Collected Poems, edited by Frederick Glaysher, is published.
1987 - Rita Dove awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for Thomas and Beulah.
1987 - The Dark Room Collective is founded by Thomas Sayers Ellis and Sharan Strange.
1988 - Good Woman and Next: New Poems (1987), both by Lucille Clifton, finalists for the Pulitzer Prize.
1988 - Dien Cai Dau by Yusef Komunyakaa is published.
1990 - Elizabeth Alexander's The Venus Hottentot is published.
1990 - Rainbow Remnants in Rock Bottom Ghetto Sky (1991) by Thylias Moss, National Poetry Series Winner.
1992 - Derek Walcott receives Nobel Prize for Literature.
1992 - In the Tradition: An Anthology of Young Black Writers, edited by Kevin Powell & Ras Baraka, published.
1993 - Maya Angelou reads poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at inauguration of Bill Clinton.
1993 - Rita Dove appointed Poet Laureate of U.S.
1993 - Kevin Young's Most Way Home (1995) is selected by Lucille Clifton as a National Poetry Series Winner.
1994  - The Furious Flower Poetry conference, organized by Joanne Gabbin, takes place September 29 - October 1.
1994 - Yusef Komunyakaa wins Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
1996 - Cave Canem, retreat for African American poets, is founded by Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady.
1996 - The Norton Anthology of African American Literature eds. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Nellie Y. McKay.
1997  - The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde is published.
1999 - Natasha Trethewey's Domestic Work (2000), selected by Rita Dove for the inaugural Cave Canem prize
2000 - Lucille Clifton wins the National Book Award for Poetry for her volume Blessing the Boats.
2001 - Yusef Komunyakaa awarded the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.
2001 - Terrance Hayes's Hip Logic (2002) is selected by Cornelius Eady as a National Poetry Series Winner.
2001 - Sonia Sanchez is awarded the Robert Frost Medal.
2001- Brutal Imagination by Cornelius Eady is published. 
2002 - Langston Hughes symposium, organized by Maryemma Graham, takes place.
2002 - A. Baraka appointed Poet Laureate of New Jersey in July.
2002 - Tracy K. Smith's volume The Body's Question selected by Kevin Young for Cave Canem Prize for poetry.
2004 - Tyehimba Jess's Leadbelly: poems (2005), selected by Brigit P. Kelly as a National Poetry Series Winner.
2004 - Second Furious Flower Poetry conference, organized by Joanne Gabbin, takes place September 22 - 25.
2005 - Patricia Smith's Teahouse of the Almighty (2006) is a National Poetry Series Winner.
2006 - Nathaniel Mackey wins the National Book Award for Poetry for his volume Splay Anthem.
2007 - Lucille Clifton awarded the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.
2007 - Elizabeth Alexander becomes first-ever recipient of Poets & Writers’ Jackson Poetry Prize.
2007 - Natasha Trethewey wins the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her volume Native Guard (2006).
2007 - Nikki Giovanni reads poem on April 17, commemorating the April 16 Virginia Tech massacre.
2008 - Michael S. Harper is awarded the Robert Frost Medal.
2008 - Douglas Kearney's The Black Automaton (2009) selected as a National Poetry Series Winner.
2008 - Adrian Matejka's Mixology (2009) is selected by Kevin Young as a National Poetry Series Winner.
2009 - Elizabeth Alexander reads "Praise Song for the Day" at inauguration of Barack Obama.
2009 - Praise Song For The Day by E. Alexander and Bicycles by Nikki Giovanni are top best selling volumes. 
2010 - Terrance Hayes wins National Book Award for Poetry for his volume Lighthead.  
2010 - Lucille Clifton is awarded the Robert Frost Medal.
2010 - "73 Poems for 73 Years: Celebrating the Life of Lucille Clifton" held on September 21.  
2011 - Nikky Finney wins National Book Award for Poetry for her volume Head Off & Split.
2011 - Sonia Sanchez appointed Poet Laureate of Philadelphia.
2011 - The Penguin Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Poetry, edited by Rita Dove, is published.
2012 - Elizabeth Alexander begins her "twitter poem project."
2012 - Marilyn Nelson is awarded the Robert Frost Medal.
2012 - Tracy K. Smith wins the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her volume Life on Mars.
2012 - N. Giovanni, M. Angelou & Joanne Gabbin organize a celebration for Toni Morrison on October 16.
2012 - The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010 is published by BOA Editions Ltd
2012 - Natasha Trethewey is appointed Mississippi's Poet Laureate.
2012 - Natasha Trethewey is announced as the new U.S. Poet Laureate.
2012 - Kevin Young's book The Grey Album: On the Blackness of Blackness is published by Graywolf Press.

Related:
• A Golden Age of Inspiration for Black Men Writers, 1977 - 1997