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: 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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