Poetry For All
Finding Our Way Into Great Poems
Displaying 4 items of Poetry For All with the tag "harlem renaissance".
-
Episode 113: Langston Hughes, Theme for English B
August 27th, 2026 | 24 mins 36 secs
african american, black history month, city, dialogue, free verse, harlem renaissance, twentieth century
In this episode, we read one of Langston Hughes's most famous poems. We discuss Hughes's conversational style, how he evokes the topography of Harlem, and the way the poetic speaker addresses the power dynamics of the classroom.
-
Episode 86: Gwendolyn Bennett, I Build America
February 20th, 2025 | Season 6 | 25 mins 19 secs
free verse, harlem renaissance, labor day, laborers, persona poem, social justice and advocacy, twentieth century, violence, women's history month
Gwendolyn Bennett was a poet, journalist, editor, and activist whose contributions helped to fuel the Harlem Renaissance. In this episode, we read "I Build America," a poem that exposes and critiques the exploitation and suffering of ordinary workers.
-
Episode 28: Countee Cullen, Yet Do I Marvel
September 29th, 2021 | Season 3 | 24 mins 48 secs
20th century, anger, black history month, christianity, guest on the show, harlem renaissance, rhymed verse, social justice and advocacy, sonnet, surprise
Countee Cullen was a major voice of the Harlem Renaissance. Joined by the renowned cultural critic Gerald Early, we here examine together story of Countee Cullen and the astounding sonnet that opens his main collection of poetry, My Soul's High Song.
-
Episode 5: Claude McKay, "America"
September 29th, 2020 | Season 1 | 14 mins 40 secs
20th century, anger, black history month, harlem renaissance, modernism, rhymed verse, social justice and advocacy, sonnet
In this episode, we discuss Claude McKay, an influential poet of the Harlem Renaissance, taking a close look at his incredible sonnet "America."