Five Black Poets to Read that Will Make You a Better Writer

April is National Poetry Month in the United States, so, I figured this would be the perfect time to share a list of famous Black poets you should know about who can help you become a better writer. Believe it or not, reading poetry and writing poetry are excellent ways to improve your craft as a prose writer, whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction. In last week’s episode of the Read, Write, and Create podcast, when I interviewed journalist, author, and poet, Jabari Asim, he emphasized this idea, making note of the fact that to write poetry, one has to learn how to be both efficient and precise with one’s words. This is obviously a useful skill for all writers.

writing poetry on a typewriter — Don’t let the idea of writing or reading poetry intimidate you. Writing poetry can spark your creativity and imagination.

Asim also talked about the usefulness of reading poetry as a beneficial addition to one’s writing routine. “I'm aware of a few writers who are not poets themselves, but they begin each writing day by reading poetry,” Asim said. “Because the eloquence, grace, and precision of poetry offers a way of opening the door to that aspect of the creative imagination and can help you do your own work.”

Poetry Can Be Intimidating

For some people, the idea of reading or writing poetry feels intimidating. Some people think poetry is boring. Of course, everyone is allowed to have their own opinion about poetry, but you don’t have to “like” poetry in order to add it to your writer’s toolbox. I don’t like beets, but I eat them anyway because I know they’re really good for me. But first, I had to find ways to eat beets that made them more palatable. The same can be true for poetry. There are so many different types of poetry and poets, you could probably find some form of poetry that moves you if you know where to look. That’s why I decided to compile this list of Black poets whose work is accessible, beautiful, and highly regarded. Perhaps these poets and their work can be the gateway to you reading and writing more poetry. And ideally, reading the work of these award-winning poets will help you become a better writer overall.

Five Black Poets Whose Work is Accessible, Relatable & Amazing

Gwendolyn Brooks.

Gwendolyn Brooks is one of the most well-known, and prolific African American poets born in the 20th century. She published so much work, much of it about the Black experience in America, there’s no doubt you will find something in her poetry that resonates and inspires. From The Poetry Foundation: “Gwendolyn Brooks is one of the most highly regarded, influential, and widely read poets of 20th-century American poetry. She was a much-honored poet, even in her lifetime, with the distinction of being the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. She also was poetry consultant to the Library of Congress—the first Black woman to hold that position—and poet laureate of the State of Illinois.”

To read some of Brooks’ most iconic poems, visit the Literary Ladies Guide website.

Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is an award-winning children’s and YA author of over 30 books. But above all, he is a poet. Many of his novels are in fact, written in verse. For some people, this might be an easier way to get into poetry, because the poetry tells a story. His basketball book in verse, The Crossover is a perennial favorite and just recently premiered as a TV series on the Disney Channel. And FYI, Alexander has a new memoir coming out in May that, you guessed it, is a collection of “poetry, letters, recipes, and other personal artifacts that provide an intimate look into his life.” The book is called Why Fathers Cry at Night and will be out in May 2023.

Tracy K. Smith

In my humble opinion, Tracy K. Smith was put on this earth to be a poet. Her work is mesmerizing and welcoming. She tells stories with her poems and she writes about the every day in ways that makes life seem both magical and mystical. From the Poetry foundation website: “In June 2017, Smith was named U.S. poet laureate. She teaches at Harvard University, where she is a professor of English and of African and African American Studies and the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute.”

To read some of Tracy K. Smith’s work and to learn more about her, check out this review in The New Yorker.

Langston Hughes

Of course, I have to include Langston Hughes in this list. Hughes was a writer, with a capital W. He wrote novels, plays, newspaper articles and essays. But I think in his soul, he was a poet. He certainly was most known for his poetry, despite all of the other words he put out into the world. One of the reasons Hughes’ poetry is so accessible, is because he was often writing about and for the everyman. Like Zora Neale Hurston, he was often criticized for writing about the common Black man, but he refused to change his style. Hughes’ poems aren’t overdone and the language is simple and precise.

One of my favorite Langston Hughes poems is, I, Too.

Morgan Parker

Admittedly, I am new to Morgan Parker’s work, but I just love the titles of her two poetry collections –Magical Negro and There are More Beautiful Things than Beyoncé – so much, I had to add her to my list. As the youngest poet on this list, Parker’s work may appeal to younger writers looking for work that has a contemporary feel and sound. According to the website Book Riot, “Parker’s poems are smart and layered, but they’re also approachable. They hook you and don’t let you go.” To get a taste of Parker’s poetry, and to learn a bit more about her, check out this short Q&A she did with McSweeney’s.

How to add Poetry to Your Writer’s Toolbox

Hopefully, with this list of poets, you can begin to incorporate poetry into your writing routine. I like to tell my students to write poetry as a warm-up exercise before tackling a bigger assignment. Sometimes, rather than telling my students to write a poem, I tell them to “play with their words,” in order to reduce the pressure of producing an “official poem.” In my upcoming Creative Writing Workshop, we’ll be doing a lot of playing with our words to free our writing voices. But remember, you don’t have to write your own poems to benefit from poetry. Simply by choosing to read a poem a day, or a poem a week, can train your writing muscles to be more precise and yes, poetic, with your word choices. I challenge you to try it. And then let me know how it goes!