Celebrating Black Poetry Day: A Guide to the History and Significance of This Important Day

Black Poetry Day is celebrated annually on October 17th to honour the contributions of Black poets to literature and celebrate the Black experience as retold in poetry. The day was established in 1985 by the National Black Arts Festival, and it commemorates the birth of Jupiter Hammon, the first published Black poet in the United States.

Hammon was born into slavery on October 17, 1711, in Long Island, New York. He was educated by his master's family and became a skilled poet. His work often explored themes of slavery, freedom, and religion. Hammon's first poem, "An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries," was published in 1760. He went on to publish several other poems, including "An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatley" (1773) and "A Poem on the Death of Mrs. Theodosia Bartow" (1791).

Hammon's work was groundbreaking for its time, and it helped to pave the way for other Black poets to be published and recognized. Today, Black poets are some of the most celebrated and respected voices in American literature. Their work explores a wide range of topics, including race, identity, culture, and social justice.

How to celebrate Black Poetry Day

There are many ways to celebrate Black Poetry Day. Here are a few ideas:

• Read and share the work of Black poets. There are many great Black poets to choose from, both past and present. Some popular Black poets include:

  • Maya Angelou

  • Gwendolyn Brooks

  • Langston Hughes

  • Nikki Giovanni

  • Lucille Clifton

  • Audre Lorde

  • Amiri Baraka

  • Sonia Sanchez

  • Ntozake Shange

  • Yusef Komunyakaa

  • Rita Dove

  • Terrance Hayes

• Attend a poetry reading or workshop. Many libraries, bookstores, and community organisations host poetry readings and workshops on Black Poetry Day and throughout the year. This is a great way to learn more about Black poetry and to meet other people who are passionate about it.

• Write your own poem. Black Poetry Day is a great opportunity to try your hand at writing poetry. If you're not sure where to start, there are many resources available online and in libraries.

• Support Black-owned bookstores and publishers. Many Black-owned bookstores and publishers specialise in Black literature. By supporting these businesses, you can help to ensure that the voices of Black poets continue to be heard.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, Black Poetry Day is a great opportunity to learn more about and appreciate the rich tradition of Black poetry in America.

Leverage this holiday to grow your business

Black Poetry Day is a great opportunity for business leaders and entrepreneurs to market and grow their businesses. Here are a few ideas:

• Partner with Black-owned businesses. You could partner with a Black-owned bookstore to host a poetry reading or workshop. Or, you could partner with a Black-owned publisher to offer discounts on their books.

• Create Black Poetry Day-themed content. This could include blog posts, social media posts, or even email newsletters. You could also create videos or podcasts featuring Black poets.

• Donate to Black literary organisations. There are many Black literary organisations that support Black poets and writers. By donating to these organisations, you can help to ensure that Black voices continue to be heard.

• Offer discounts or promotions on Black-authored books. This is a great way to encourage people to learn more about Black poetry and to support Black authors.

• Host a Black Poetry Day event at your business. This could be a simple poetry reading or workshop, or it could be a larger event with food, music, and other activities.

Here are some specific examples of how businesses have leveraged Black Poetry Day to market and grow their businesses in the past:

• A bookstore partnered with a local library to host a poetry reading event featuring Black poets. The event was free and open to the public, and it was a great way to promote the bookstore and to introduce people to Black poetry.

• A clothing company created a line of Black Poetry Day-themed t-shirts. The shirts featured quotes from Black poets and were a hit with customers.

• A restaurant offered a special Black Poetry Day menu featuring dishes inspired by Black poetry. The menu was a creative way to celebrate the holiday and to introduce people to new foods.

• A publishing company offered a discount on all Black-authored books during Black Poetry Day. The discount was a great way to encourage people to learn more about Black literature and to support Black authors.

• A tech company hosted a Black Poetry Day event at their office. The event featured a poetry reading, a panel discussion on Black poetry, and a networking session. The event was a great way to connect with employees and to celebrate Black culture.

No matter what your business is, there are ways to leverage Black Poetry Day to market and grow your business. By celebrating this important holiday, you can show your support for Black poets and writers, and you can also reach new customers and grow your brand.

How can The Industry Leader help?

How The Industry Leader can help business leaders and entrepreneurs grow their business during the month of October:

• Web design: The Industry Leader can help you create a professional and visually appealing website that represents your brand and attracts customers. They can help you with everything from choosing the right domain name and hosting provider to designing and developing your website.

• Social media management: The Industry Leader can help you manage your social media accounts to create and share engaging content, grow your following, and drive traffic to your website. They can help you develop a social media strategy, create content, and schedule and publish your posts.

• Email marketing: The Industry Leader can help you create and send targeted email marketing campaigns to reach your target audience and promote your products or services. They can help you collect email addresses, segment your list, and create and send effective email campaigns.

• 1:1 consultation: The Industry Leader can also provide you with 1:1 consultation to help you achieve your business goals. They can help you with everything from developing a business plan to marketing your business to managing your finances.

Here are some specific examples of how The Industry Leader can help you grow your business during the month of October:

• Web design: The Industry Leader can help you create a special Black Poetry Day landing page on your website. This landing page can feature information about Black Poetry Day, as well as links to Black-authored books and other resources.

• Social media management: The Industry Leader can help you create and share Black Poetry Day-themed content on your social media accounts. This could include quotes from Black poets, links to Black-authored articles and blog posts, or even videos of Black poets reading their work.

• Email marketing: The Industry Leader can help you create and send a Black Poetry Day email marketing campaign to your subscribers. This campaign could promote your Black Poetry Day landing page or offer a discount on Black-authored books.

• 1:1 consultation: The Industry Leader can provide you with 1:1 consultation to help you develop a Black Poetry Day marketing plan. They can help you brainstorm ideas for content, promotions, and events.

No matter what your business is, The Industry Leader can help you grow your business during the month of October with web design, social media management, email marketing, and 1:1 consultation.

A Celebration of Culture and Identity

Related Content