A poem by E. Ethelbert Miller
Billie Holiday
sometimes the deaf
hear better than the blind
some men
when they first
heard her sing
were only attracted
to the flower in her hair
E. Ethelbert Miller
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Gwendolyn Brooks interviewed by Alan Jabbour (director of the Library of Congress’s American Folklore division) and E. Ethelbert Miller (poet and director of the African American Resource Center at Howard University), 1986 [HoCoPoLitSo, Columbia, MD]
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Dupont Circle granite engraved with E. Ethelbert Miller’s poem “We Embrace”: We fought against the invisible / We looked to one another for comfort / We held the hands of friends and lovers / We did not turn our backs / We embraced / We embraced.
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911 LS characters and poems they'd love
I've been reading a lot of poetry as of late and it made me ponder, what type of poetry would each character like? I present to you, poems (I think) the 126 (and then some) would love 💞
TK - The Great Fires by Jack Gilbert
Carlos - Love After Love by Derek Walcott
Grace - If I Had Three Lives by Sarah Russell
Judd - Two Times I Loved You Most in the Car by Dorothea Grossman
Owen - Divorced Fathers and Pizza Crusts by Mark Halliday
Paul - The Things in Black Men’s Closets by E. Ethelbert Miller
Marjan - The Heart of a Woman by Georgia Douglas Johnson
Tommy - Dear Life by Maya C. Popa
Nancy - Walking the Dunes by Brenda Hillman
Mateo - To Mars from Arizona by Alberto Ríos
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Essex Hemphill (April 16, 1957 – November 4, 1995) was a poet and activist. He is known for his contributions to the DC art scene, and for openly discussing topics pertinent to the African-American gay community.
He and his colleagues started the Nethula Journal of Contemporary Literature, a publication aimed at showcasing the works of modern black artists. One of his first public readings was arranged by Nethula co-editor E. Ethelbert Miller at Howard University’s Founder Library where he performed beside and befriended filmmaker Michelle Parkerson. He performed at other institutions, including Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and UCLA to name a few.
He published his largest collection of poetry and short stories, entitled Ceremonies: Prose and Poetry, which included recent work, but a selection from his earlier poetry collections, Earth Life and Conditions. The anthology would be awarded the National Library Association’s Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual New Author Award and a Pew Charitable Trust Fellowship in the Arts. He was a visiting scholar at the Getty Center. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #kappaalphapsi
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Love Poem # 1
I enter you like sunlight .
- E. Ethelbert Miller
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The Things in Black Men's Closets
on the top shelf
of the closet
is the hat my father
wears on special occasions
it rests next to the large jar
he saves pennies in
his head is always bare
when i see him walking
in the street
i once sat in his bedroom
watching him search
between sweaters and suits
looking for something missing
a tie perhaps
then he stopped
and slowly walked to the closet
took the hat from the shelf
i sat on the bed
studying his back
waiting for him to turn
and tell me who died
Written by E. Ethelbert Miller
Courtesy of; https://www.afropoets.net/eemiller.html
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For this assignment I chose the poem Malcolm X, February 1965 by E. Ethelbert Miller.
"Malcolm X, February 1965" is a short poem about Malcolm X's thoughts right before he was killed. Miller writes this poem from the perspective of Malcolm X himself, and contemplates on not his own fears, but for his those of his family. The poem is simple but deep, showing us a side of Malcolm X we might not think about often which is his role as a husband and father, not just a public figure.
The poem is about Malcolm X knowing he might not have much time left. He worries about what will happen to his wife, Betty, and their girls after he's gone. At night, he can't sleep and keeps watch, ready to protect his family. Despite knowing people hate him and want to hurt him, he talks about dying for them and loving them in the best way he can. He ends by hoping Allah sees he's trying to do the right thing.
The poem shows a great deal of imagery. This is when the poem paints pictures in our minds. Like when Miller talks about Malcolm X watching out the window with a gun, it's easy to picture and feels intense. It shows how serious he is about keeping his family safe.
Miller's poem is more than just about a historical figure; it's about feeling scared but also brave and caring a lot about your family and what you stand for. It's a reminder of how complex and deep Malcolm X was.
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African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition presented by Esther Productions, Inc, The Black Student Fund, and The Institute for African American Writing
Mar 02, 2024, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM EST
125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA
COME LEARN THE STORY AND LEGACY OF WASHINGTON, DC’S AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHORS OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE—Past and Present, including May Miller Sullivan, Sterling Brown, Maxine Clair, Gwendolyn Brooks, Daphne Muse, Lucille Clifton, Eloise Greenfield, Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Jennifer Lawson, Courtland Cox, Adjoa Burrowes, E. Ethelbert Miller, Carolivia Herron, Aisha Rice, Tricia Elam Walker, jonetta rose barras, Sheila Crider, David Miller, Michelle Meadows, Leah Henderson , Michelle Green, Lakia Wilson and others.
Panel discussions topics include: REMOVING THE MASK, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES: The Struggle of Black Authors To Publish Authentic Stories About African American People--Their Lives and Their Culture; SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD: Illustrators Talk About The Challenge of Creating Images That Bring Children’s Books Alive; TRUNKS, SATCHELS AND THE US POSTAL SERVICE: Book Distributors and Store Owners Tell Their Story About Getting Black Books into the World By All and Any Means Necessary; and UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UNTOLD STORIES: The Future of Black Children’s Literature.
DON'T MISS THE LUNCH TIME CONVERSATION BETWEEN SHARON BELL MATHIS AND E.ETHELBERT MILLER
This event is curated by award-winning author and public scholar jonetta rose barras in partnership with humanities scholar Bernard Demczuk Ph.D. ,The Black Student Fund, The Institute for African American Writing, Teaching for Change, Social Justice Books, Buck Wild Media, and Lesa Warrick.
Major funding has been provided by HumanitiesDC with additional support from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, The Robert Bobb Group, and BusBoys and Poets.
OFFICIAL ONSITE BOOKSELLER: Sankofa: Video Books and Cafe
Authors will sign books throughout the day
IT'S FREE. REGISTER IS REQUIRED. -https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/new-details-african-americans-and-childrens-literature-a-symposium-and-exhibition
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African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition presented by Esther Productions, Inc, The Black Student Fund, and The Institute for African American Writing
Mar 02, 2024, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM EST
125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA
COME LEARN THE STORY AND LEGACY OF WASHINGTON, DC’S AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHORS OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE—Past and Present, including May Miller Sullivan, Sterling Brown, Maxine Clair, Gwendolyn Brooks, Daphne Muse, Lucille Clifton, Eloise Greenfield, Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Jennifer Lawson, Courtland Cox, Adjoa Burrowes, E. Ethelbert Miller, Carolivia Herron, Aisha Rice, Tricia Elam Walker, jonetta rose barras, Sheila Crider, David Miller, Michelle Meadows, Leah Henderson , Michelle Green, Lakia Wilson and others.
Panel discussions topics include: REMOVING THE MASK, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES: The Struggle of Black Authors To Publish Authentic Stories About African American People--Their Lives and Their Culture; SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD: Illustrators Talk About The Challenge of Creating Images That Bring Children’s Books Alive; TRUNKS, SATCHELS AND THE US POSTAL SERVICE: Book Distributors and Store Owners Tell Their Story About Getting Black Books into the World By All and Any Means Necessary; and UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UNTOLD STORIES: The Future of Black Children’s Literature.
DON'T MISS THE LUNCH TIME CONVERSATION BETWEEN SHARON BELL MATHIS AND E.ETHELBERT MILLER
This event is curated by award-winning author and public scholar jonetta rose barras in partnership with humanities scholar Bernard Demczuk Ph.D. ,The Black Student Fund, The Institute for African American Writing, Teaching for Change, Social Justice Books, Buck Wild Media, and Lesa Warrick.
Major funding has been provided by HumanitiesDC with additional support from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, The Robert Bobb Group, and BusBoys and Poets.
OFFICIAL ONSITE BOOKSELLER: Sankofa: Video Books and Cafe
Authors will sign books throughout the day
IT'S FREE. REGISTER IS REQUIRED. -https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/new-details-african-americans-and-childrens-literature-a-symposium-and-exhibition
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African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition presented by Esther Productions, Inc, The Black Student Fund, and The Institute for African American Writing
Mar 02, 2024, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM EST
125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA
COME LEARN THE STORY AND LEGACY OF WASHINGTON, DC’S AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHORS OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE—Past and Present, including May Miller Sullivan, Sterling Brown, Maxine Clair, Gwendolyn Brooks, Daphne Muse, Lucille Clifton, Eloise Greenfield, Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Jennifer Lawson, Courtland Cox, Adjoa Burrowes, E. Ethelbert Miller, Carolivia Herron, Aisha Rice, Tricia Elam Walker, jonetta rose barras, Sheila Crider, David Miller, Michelle Meadows, Leah Henderson , Michelle Green, Lakia Wilson and others.
Panel discussions topics include: REMOVING THE MASK, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES: The Struggle of Black Authors To Publish Authentic Stories About African American People--Their Lives and Their Culture; SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD: Illustrators Talk About The Challenge of Creating Images That Bring Children’s Books Alive; TRUNKS, SATCHELS AND THE US POSTAL SERVICE: Book Distributors and Store Owners Tell Their Story About Getting Black Books into the World By All and Any Means Necessary; and UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UNTOLD STORIES: The Future of Black Children’s Literature.
DON'T MISS THE LUNCH TIME CONVERSATION BETWEEN SHARON BELL MATHIS AND E.ETHELBERT MILLER
This event is curated by award-winning author and public scholar jonetta rose barras in partnership with humanities scholar Bernard Demczuk Ph.D. ,The Black Student Fund, The Institute for African American Writing, Teaching for Change, Social Justice Books, Buck Wild Media, and Lesa Warrick.
Major funding has been provided by HumanitiesDC with additional support from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, The Robert Bobb Group, and BusBoys and Poets.
OFFICIAL ONSITE BOOKSELLER: Sankofa: Video Books and Cafe
Authors will sign books throughout the day
IT'S FREE. REGISTER IS REQUIRED. -https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/new-details-african-americans-and-childrens-literature-a-symposium-and-exhibition
0 notes
African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition presented by Esther Productions, Inc, The Black Student Fund, and The Institute for African American Writing
Mar 02, 2024, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM EST
125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA
COME LEARN THE STORY AND LEGACY OF WASHINGTON, DC’S AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHORS OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE—Past and Present, including May Miller Sullivan, Sterling Brown, Maxine Clair, Gwendolyn Brooks, Daphne Muse, Lucille Clifton, Eloise Greenfield, Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Jennifer Lawson, Courtland Cox, Adjoa Burrowes, E. Ethelbert Miller, Carolivia Herron, Aisha Rice, Tricia Elam Walker, jonetta rose barras, Sheila Crider, David Miller, Michelle Meadows, Leah Henderson , Michelle Green, Lakia Wilson and others.
Panel discussions topics include: REMOVING THE MASK, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES: The Struggle of Black Authors To Publish Authentic Stories About African American People--Their Lives and Their Culture; SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD: Illustrators Talk About The Challenge of Creating Images That Bring Children’s Books Alive; TRUNKS, SATCHELS AND THE US POSTAL SERVICE: Book Distributors and Store Owners Tell Their Story About Getting Black Books into the World By All and Any Means Necessary; and UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UNTOLD STORIES: The Future of Black Children’s Literature.
DON'T MISS THE LUNCH TIME CONVERSATION BETWEEN SHARON BELL MATHIS AND E.ETHELBERT MILLER
This event is curated by award-winning author and public scholar jonetta rose barras in partnership with humanities scholar Bernard Demczuk Ph.D. ,The Black Student Fund, The Institute for African American Writing, Teaching for Change, Social Justice Books, Buck Wild Media, and Lesa Warrick.
Major funding has been provided by HumanitiesDC with additional support from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, The Robert Bobb Group, and BusBoys and Poets.
OFFICIAL ONSITE BOOKSELLER: Sankofa: Video Books and Cafe
Authors will sign books throughout the day
IT'S FREE. REGISTER IS REQUIRED. -https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/new-details-african-americans-and-childrens-literature-a-symposium-and-exhibition
0 notes
African Americans and Children's Literature: A Symposium and Exhibition presented by Esther Productions, Inc, The Black Student Fund, and The Institute for African American Writing
Mar 02, 2024, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM EST
125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA
COME LEARN THE STORY AND LEGACY OF WASHINGTON, DC’S AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHORS OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE—Past and Present, including May Miller Sullivan, Sterling Brown, Maxine Clair, Gwendolyn Brooks, Daphne Muse, Lucille Clifton, Eloise Greenfield, Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Jennifer Lawson, Courtland Cox, Adjoa Burrowes, E. Ethelbert Miller, Carolivia Herron, Aisha Rice, Tricia Elam Walker, jonetta rose barras, Sheila Crider, David Miller, Michelle Meadows, Leah Henderson , Michelle Green, Lakia Wilson and others.
Panel discussions topics include: REMOVING THE MASK, AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES: The Struggle of Black Authors To Publish Authentic Stories About African American People--Their Lives and Their Culture; SEEING OURSELVES IN THE RIVER, IN THE MIRROR, IN THE WORLD: Illustrators Talk About The Challenge of Creating Images That Bring Children’s Books Alive; TRUNKS, SATCHELS AND THE US POSTAL SERVICE: Book Distributors and Store Owners Tell Their Story About Getting Black Books into the World By All and Any Means Necessary; and UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UNTOLD STORIES: The Future of Black Children’s Literature.
DON'T MISS THE LUNCH TIME CONVERSATION BETWEEN SHARON BELL MATHIS AND E.ETHELBERT MILLER
This event is curated by award-winning author and public scholar jonetta rose barras in partnership with humanities scholar Bernard Demczuk Ph.D. ,The Black Student Fund, The Institute for African American Writing, Teaching for Change, Social Justice Books, Buck Wild Media, and Lesa Warrick.
Major funding has been provided by HumanitiesDC with additional support from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, The Robert Bobb Group, and BusBoys and Poets.
OFFICIAL ONSITE BOOKSELLER: Sankofa: Video Books and Cafe
Authors will sign books throughout the day
IT'S FREE. REGISTER IS REQUIRED. -https://www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/new-details-african-americans-and-childrens-literature-a-symposium-and-exhibition
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Mississippi
E Ethelbert Miller
death surrounds itself with the living
i watch them take the body from the house
i’m a young kid maybe five years old
the whole thing makes no sense to me
i hear my father say
lord jesus what she go and do this for
i watch him walk out the backdoor of the house
i watch him walk around the garden
kick the dirt
stare at the flowers
& shake his head shake his head
he shakes his head all night long
yazoo
jackson
vicksburg
we must have family in almost every city
i spent more time traveling than growing up
guess that’s why i’m still shorter than my old man
he don’t like to stay in one place much
he tell me
soon as people get to know your last name
seem like they want to call you by your first
boy if someone ask you your name
tell them to call you mississippi
not sippi or sip but mississippi
how many colored folks you know name mississippi
none see
now you can find a whole lot of folks whose
name is canada
just like you can find 53 people in any phone book
whose name is booker t. washington
your mother she was a smart woman
gave you a good name
not one of them abolitionist names
what you look like with a name like
john brown or william lloyd garrison
that don’t have no class
your mother she named you after the river
cause of its beauty and mystery
just like my mother named me nevada
cause she didn’t know where it was
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Malcolm X, February 1965
by E. Ethelbert Miller
i will die this month. how
i do not know. still there
is much work to be done. i
am afraid not for myself but
for betty and the girls. some
nights i stay awake looking
out the window, a gun in my
hand. i know how cruel people
can be. i have known hatred and
blindness. there are brothers
waiting to do me harm. i will
die for them. i will love them
as only i can. may allah be my
witness.
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