African American Studies

Chris Abani

NYT Bestselling Novelist
Nigerian-born Poet
PEN Freedom to Write

Samiya Bashir

Acclaimed Poet
Field Theories
Finalist Lambda Lit Award
Mixed Media Readings

Jericho Brown

Acclaimed Poet
NBA Finalist
Gay Rights Advocate
The New Testament

Mahogany L. Browne

Poet, Performer & Activist
YA & Children's Author
Black Girl Magic

Kwame Dawes

Ghana-born Jamaican Poet
Novelist and Essayist
Emmy: LiveHopeLove
Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius

Natashia Deón

Acclaimed Novelist
Faith in Writing
Immigration Attorney
Novel: Grace

Camille Dungy

Award-winning Poet
NBCCA Finalist in Criticism
Acclaimed Essayist
Women's Issues

Cornelius Eady

Poet, Lyricist, Playwright
Co-Founder of Cave Canem
Hardheaded Weather
Rough Magic: Lit Band

Aminatta Forna

Award-winning Novelist
Acclaimed Memoirist
Issues of War and Peace
The Memory of Love

Saidiya Hartman

MacArthur “Genius” Award
Distinguished Literary Scholar
Cultural Historian
African American Studies

Terrance Hayes

Distinguished Poet
MacArthur "Genius" Award
National Book Award
Visual Artist

Major Jackson

Acclaimed Poet
NBCCA Finalist
NAACP Image Finalist
Poems: Roll Deep

Douglas Kearney

Acclaimed Poet
Mixed Media Readings
CLMP Firecracker Award
Race, Culture & Identity

Dawn Lundy Martin

Poet, Critic, Essayist
Video Artist & Performer
Kingsley Tufts Award
LAMBDA Literary Award

Airea D. Matthews

Award-winning Poet
Beloved Teacher
Race, Culture & Identity
Women's Issues

Marilyn Nelson

Poet-as-Historian
Frost Poetry Prize
YA: American Ace
Children: Snook Alone

Ladan Osman

Somali-born Poet
Essays on Race
Issues of Immigration
Gender & Displacement

Patrick Phillips

Poet & Nonfiction Writer
Nat'l Book Award Finalist
Award-winning Translator
FYE: Blood at the Root

Claudia Rankine

Poet & Playwright
NYT Nonfiction Bestseller
NBCCA & Forward Prize
FYE: Citizen

Sapphire

Bestselling Novelist
Performance Poet
Social Justice Activist
FYE: Push | Film: Precious

Tim Seibles

Acclaimed Poet
Nat'l Book Award Finalist
Race Relations
Virginia Poet Laureate

Michael Thomas

Novelist & Memoirist
IMPAC Dublin Award
Novel: Man Gone Down
Memoir: The Broken King

Natasha Trethewey

Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet
United States Poet Laureate (2012-2014)
FYE: Native Guard

Crystal Valentine

Poet, Educator & Activist
Nat’l Poetry Slam Finalist
Queer Intersectionality
NYC Youth Poet Laureate