A review by duskyliterati
The 100 Best African American Poems [With CD (Audio)] by Nikki Giovanni
4.0
Poet Nikki Giovanni is the editor of this anthology of The 100 Best African American Poems. However, there is an asterisk and small type indicating “but I cheated” and that’s because the book actually contains 221 poems. The compilation covers the gamut from classic to contemporary poems and include works by Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Kevin Young, Mari Evans, Haki R. Madhubuti , Kwame Alexander, Tupac Shakar, among others. Also included with the book, is a companion audio CD that contains 36 of the poems being read by their authors (Giovanni, Gwendolyn Brooks, Elizabeth Alexander, and Sonia Sanchez) and other notables such as actresses Ruby Dee and Novella Nelson. The collection is nominated for a NAACP Image Award.
There are two poems by Tupac Shakur in the book and a couple of interviewers have concentrated on this fact. Last week, I listened to an NPR interview with Giovanni and learned she has a “Thug Life” tattoo on her left arm because she was distressed at the death of Tupac and wanted to find a way to express it. She feels that Tupac is important culturally to black America and she wanted to find some solidarity with his generation. While I don’t disagree that there are rappers/musicians who are poets (Mos Def, Jill Scott, Ursula Rucker, The Last Poets, Saul Williams, etc.) including Tupac, I personally don’t get the celebration of the “Thug Life” with a tattoo. Just saying.
One quarter of the poems are by contemporary poets including the current National Book Award winner Terrance Hayes. While some of my personal favorites are missing (i.e., Gil Scott-Heron, Askia Toure, Ishmael Reed, Sekou Sundiata, Ai, and Melvin Tolson), I have discovered several new poets, including Camille T. Dungy and Major Jackson. The best thing about this collection of poetry is being able to hear several of the poems being read. I’ve always felt poetry was best experienced when read aloud to truly understand the rhythm and cadence inherent in the lines. I particularly enjoyed the majestic reading of James Weldon Johnson’s “The Creation” by Terry L. Papillon, the poignancy in discussing abortion in Ruby Dee’s reading of “The Mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks, the sassiness of “Homage to My Hips” by Lucille Clifton read by Ennis McCrery, and the jazzy delivery of “Nikki, If You Were A Song…” by Kwame Alexander read by Novella Nelson. I think this is an excellent introduction to a wide range of poetry from African Americans.
There are two poems by Tupac Shakur in the book and a couple of interviewers have concentrated on this fact. Last week, I listened to an NPR interview with Giovanni and learned she has a “Thug Life” tattoo on her left arm because she was distressed at the death of Tupac and wanted to find a way to express it. She feels that Tupac is important culturally to black America and she wanted to find some solidarity with his generation. While I don’t disagree that there are rappers/musicians who are poets (Mos Def, Jill Scott, Ursula Rucker, The Last Poets, Saul Williams, etc.) including Tupac, I personally don’t get the celebration of the “Thug Life” with a tattoo. Just saying.
One quarter of the poems are by contemporary poets including the current National Book Award winner Terrance Hayes. While some of my personal favorites are missing (i.e., Gil Scott-Heron, Askia Toure, Ishmael Reed, Sekou Sundiata, Ai, and Melvin Tolson), I have discovered several new poets, including Camille T. Dungy and Major Jackson. The best thing about this collection of poetry is being able to hear several of the poems being read. I’ve always felt poetry was best experienced when read aloud to truly understand the rhythm and cadence inherent in the lines. I particularly enjoyed the majestic reading of James Weldon Johnson’s “The Creation” by Terry L. Papillon, the poignancy in discussing abortion in Ruby Dee’s reading of “The Mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks, the sassiness of “Homage to My Hips” by Lucille Clifton read by Ennis McCrery, and the jazzy delivery of “Nikki, If You Were A Song…” by Kwame Alexander read by Novella Nelson. I think this is an excellent introduction to a wide range of poetry from African Americans.