The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) regularly hosts major National Poetry Month events spotlighting African American poetry: in April 2025, these events included a Cave-Canem-sponsored program, featuring a reading by Lauren K. Alleyne and remarks by Cave Canem Executive Director Lisa Willis (April 6), and a symposium on Phillis Wheatley (April 8). —L. V.
Shortly after the summer 2020 upheaval initiated a reckoning among many major literary organizations regarding representation, the 2022 joint awarding of 11 poets (rather than the customary 1) by the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize included 5 major African American poets: Rita Dove, Nikki Giovanni, Angela Jackson, Haki R. Madhubuti, and Sonia Sanchez. —L. V.
Always known as a prolific poet, Allison Joseph, in 2016, released five volumes: Double Identity, The Purpose of Hands, Mercurial, Mortal Rewards, Multitudes. —H. R.
Between 2016 and 2026, several African American poets won the prestigious Wallace Stevens Award: Sonia Sanchez in 2018, Rita Dove in 2019, Nikky Finney in 2020, Toi Derricotte in 2021, Marilyn Nelson in 2022, Afaa Michael Weaver in 2023, and Cornelius Eady in 2025. —H. R.
Related:
• Black Poetry Findings
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