When an advanced group of scholars converged to study Black poetry

Participants in the NEH Summer Institute on Black Poetry at the University of Kansas, July 2015

One of the great things about Black poetry is that even advanced scholars still feel they have more to learn, especially by gathering with others to deepen and expand their knowledge. Without that shared spirit of curiosity, there’s no way we could’ve brought together so many talented people for the NEH Summer Institute, Black Poetry After the Black Arts Movement, in July 2015.

The participants came from across the country and were at various stages in their professional careers. All of them arrived with accomplishments in literary studies. Yet, they chose to be there because they wanted to learn more about the histories and evolving dimensions of Black poetry.

Looking back, it’s striking to remember that room full of intellectuals, artists, researchers, and educators. Everyone was there with a common purpose to develop stronger, more effective ways of understanding and teaching Black poetry, so they could pass those lessons on to their students, readers, and broader communities.

They did it. They're still doing it.

Related: 

• Black Poetry After the Black Arts Movement: Reflections