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Remembering the Black Arts Movement Symposium: The Women of the Black Arts Movement

A Panel Discussion on Sonia Sanchez, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and June Jordan

Embark on a profound journey as distinguished community leaders engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the enduring legacies of Sonia Sanchez, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and June Jordan. Explore the pivotal roles these extraordinary women played within the Black Arts Movement, delving into their influential contributions to literature, activism, and cultural transformation.

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Sonia Sanchez played a pivotal role in the Black Arts Movement through the publication of her first and second volumes of poetry. "Home Coming" (1968) delves into the struggle of defining black identity in the United States, celebrating the richness of black culture. Her second work, "We BaddDDD People" (1970), employs experimental poetic forms and focuses on the everyday lives of Black women and men.

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During the Black Arts Movement, Audre Lorde published three poetry collections. "The First Cities" (1968), though not explicitly political, serves as an introspective reflection on Lorde's identity as a Black person. The subsequent books, "Cable to Rage" (1970) and "From a Land Where Other People Live" (1973), are more politically charged, exploring injustices and oppression faced by Lorde as a Black woman, a lesbian, a mother, and a poet.

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Nikki Giovanni, often regarded as the most famous woman poet of the Black Arts Movement, established a strong, militant presence in her early poetry, earning her the title "Poet of the Black Revolution." Her initial three collections, "Black Feeling", "Black Talk" (1967), "Black Judgement" (1968), and "Re: Creation" (1970), propelled her to fame.

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June Jordan's initial contribution to the movement came with her first published book, "Who Look at Me" (1969), a collection of poetry for children that used verse to describe paintings by Black Americans. Jordan later released her first full-length book of poetry in 1974, titled "New Days: Poems of Exile and Return.

Remembering the Black Arts Movement is a multi-day symposium that presents panels, readings, and discussions centered on the writers, work, and impact of the Black Arts Movement. This movement, named for a group of motivated Black poets, artists, dramatists, musicians, and writers, emerged in the wake of significant civil rights activism and legislation. The event will shine a spotlight on the work and impact of notable writers from the movement, including Nikki Giovanni, Amiri Baraka, Ntozake Shange, Gil Scott-Heron, Sonia Sanchez, and Audre Lorde. Each day is designed to provide community members with the opportunity to meet each other, learn about the profound influence of the Black Arts Movement, and connect with local artists, scholars, and historians based in the DMV