To celebrate Black History Month, I start class off everyday with a poem by a Black poet. Here’s my Playlist if you want to use it in your classroom. Sometimes we talk about the poem afterwards, sometimes we free-write or journal, sometimes we just let the poem be. It depends on the poem and our agenda for the day. This list is nowhere near complete, and I encourage you to discover and share more Black artists who will resonate with your students.

 

A special tribute to Gwedolyn Brooks, created by Eve Ewing and Nate Marshall:

And I always save this one for the last day:

More lessons & resources for teaching Black poets

This list of poems created by Cait Hutsell

Amanda Gorman Inauguration Poem Lessons

New Hyperdoc for Rudy Francisco

SZA Workshop Series

Considering Elegy with Clint Smith & Danez Smith poems

A Declaration in Poetry with Tracy K. Smith

Exploring “Heart to Heart” by Rita Dove