POEMHOOD: OUR BLACK REVIVAL History, Folklore & the Black Experience: A Young Adult Poetry Anthology

Angel Pean and Greg Campbell narrate this YA anthology of Black poetry with passion, humor, reverence, and a whole lot of vibrant rhythm. The anthology collects poems by twentieth-century giants such as Langston Hughes and Audre Lorde, alongside offerings from contemporary poets, including Danez Smith and Ibi Zoboi. Each poem is followed by commentary explaining its historical context or offering insight into the author's writing process. Both Pean and Campbell speak clearly and deliberately, infusing their narrations with whatever the poems call for, whether it be gravitas, silliness, anger, or love. The poems themselves explore Black history and folklore, racism and police violence, and, most exuberantly, Black joy. A thoughtful and invigorating collection that will appeal to teens and adults alike. L.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]