I, Too, Sing America

Clinton, Catherine (comp). I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry. ill. Stephen Alcorn. Houghton Mifflin, 1998.

This anthology of poems covers authors from the first known African-American, Lucy Terry, to the poets of today. There is such a diversity of authors, tones, and moods in this book! Authors vary from the obscure, lesser-known ones such as Angelina Weld Grimké to the utterly famous Langston Hughes. Each poet is first introduced by a biography and sometimes a brief note on the poem. Each poem is further accompanied by an illustration done by Stephen Alcorn. Alcorn's interpretations of the poems are moving, inspiring and appropriate for each poem. Overall, this book presents a wonderful and moving tribute to great African-American authors throughout the ages. The poems and information in this book will inform and inspire every reader.

I would use this book during February's Black History Month in a middle or high school. On a bulletin board outside of the library, I would post an enlarged copy of one of the authors' poems and the artwork that accompanies it. In addition, I would post interesting bits of information about each author. I would rotate the authors weekly. On top of this, I would read visiting classes brief poems by authors throughout the year. The following is one of the poems I would choose to post.

Tableau by Countee Cullen

Locked arm in arm they cross the way,

The black boy and the white,

The golden splendor of the day,

The sable pride of night.

From lowered blinds the dark folk stare,

And here the fair folk talk,

Indignant that these two should dare

In unison to walk.

Oblivious to look and word

They pass, and see no wonder

That lightning brilliant as a sword

Should blaze the path of thunder.