I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry

By Catherine Clinton

Book Overview

Powerful and diverse, this unique collection of African American poetry spans three centuries of writing in America. Poets bare their souls, speak their minds, trace their roots, and proclaim their dreams in the thirty-six poems compiled here. From lamentations to celebrations, the poems of Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Gwendolyn Brooks, among others, reveal the ironies of black America, juxtaposing themes of resistance and reconciliation, hope and despair.
Eminent scholar Catherine Clinton further illuminates these poems through brief biographies of the poets and notes on the text. The result is an authoritative introduction to twenty-five of America's best poets. Prize-winning artist Stephen Alcorn lends his own artistic vision and passion to the collection, providing stunning visual interpretations of each poem. Together they create a stirring tribute to these great poets.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 054458256X
• ISBN13: 9780544582569
• Release Date: January 2017
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.5" x 11.5"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

I, Too Sing America

Not only does this book give you a variety of African-American poets,it also supplies you with a brief background of each author. This gives you some of the ingredients it took to make each poem. There are thirty-six poems total. Of the twenty-five poets, Clinton,(author), selects more than one piece from some of them. For those who only know of a few poets, this book allows you to learn about others. The illustrator (Stephen Alcorn)Uses lots of color to express the feelings of the poem. These are the type of pictures that you must look at with a keen eye. A lot of symbolism is used in his drawings. You can get a general idea of the poem by looking at the pictures. To check this book out would be an injustice. this is a must buy book. Everyones library should consist of this poetic history.

Wonderful book to add to your home library.

This is an excellent poetry book with a diverse group of African American poets. The artwork also inspires discussion. I use this book as part of my homeschooling lessons on poetry. Many thought provoking poems to enjoy and ponder.