poetry
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T.D. Jakes, Scary White Historical Figures, Black Celebs Who Died and More News
A collection of The Root’s best posts of the week in news
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Grab Your Kleenex: This Happened After A Single Black Dad’s Video On Kids’ First Christmas Without Mom Went Viral
Donald Wilson’s TikTok video tugged on the heartstrings of users.
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Gov. Hochul’s Invites 9-Year-old Poet To Perform at Inaugural Ceremony
Never underestimate the power of young Black artist.
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Beloved and Prolific Poet-Actor Craig 'muMs' Grant Dies at 53
Craig “muMs” Grant, the beloved poet and actor known for appearing in HBO’s acclaimed series Oz, has died. His representatives at Ellipsis Entertainment Group confirmed Grant died on Thursday, but the details of his death are unknown, Deadline reports. “We are heartbroken over the loss of one of the most genuine, caring, loving souls we…
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'We Write to Tell the Truth': The Root Presents: It's Lit! Talks the Poetic Justice of 2020 With Nikki Giovanni
Of all the adjectives we’d use to describe 2020, “good” wouldn’t exactly top the list. But as this most eventful year comes to a close, hosting literary icon and activist Nikki Giovanni on our new podcast, The Root Presents: It’s Lit! will undoubtedly be one of its high points. Ironically, to hear the legendary poet…
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The Home of Celebrated Poet Lucille Clifton Will Become a Creative Haven in Baltimore
The opening lines of one of Lucille Clifton’s best-known poems read: “Won’t you celebrate with me, what I have shaped into a kind of life? I had no model.” In life, Clifton was a prolific poet and children’s book author who, after being brought to national attention by the likes of Langston Hughes and Ishmael…
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![Exclusive: New Performance Project VOICES to Replace Vagina Monologues and Focus on Experiences of Black Women [Updated]](https://assets-server.theroot.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/29114025/aqm0g5svqif3tfbloxie-300x169.png)
Exclusive: New Performance Project VOICES to Replace Vagina Monologues and Focus on Experiences of Black Women [Updated]
The year 2020 has served as an opportunity for many people to pivot in their careers—and the same can be said for programming in the arts. The Root has exclusively learned that V-Day (a global activist movement organization with a mission to end violence against women) is replacing the highly popular episodic play The Vagina…
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Black Spoken Word Artist Becomes 1st Ever Poet to Win America’s Got Talent
As a poet and spoken word artist myself, I can appreciate someone with a wicked pen game and great delivery. In fact, I am not the only spoken word artist and poet on The Root staff. Perhaps you’ve heard of Michael Harriot, our resident Wypipologist, master race-baiter and the last real Negus alive. Try not…
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Phenomenal Woman: Maya Angelou’s Legacy Will Be Adapted for the Stage
The miraculous life and words of Maya Angelou are being made into a one-woman show that producers hope to bring to Broadway, Deadline reports. Her only son, Guy Johnson, is working on the project, which is being led by Angelou’s former representative David Michael Rich and Hollywood and Broadway producer J. Todd Harris. Maya Angelou—recipient…
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Today Is National Black Poetry Day. Here’s a Totally Biased List of 10 Black Poems You Should Hear
Today is national black poetry day and I am, among many things, a black poet. I could link to Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” or some other literary poets, but there are these things called books that you should totally check out. And because The Root’s Social Media Editor Corey Townsend hates spoken word poetry, I…