Best Famous Black African American Poems

Here is a collection of the all-time best famous Black African American poems. This is a select list of the best famous Black African American poetry. Reading, writing, and enjoying famous Black African American poetry (as well as classical and contemporary poems) is a great past time. These top poems are the best examples of black african american poems.

Search and read the best famous Black African American poems, articles about Black African American poems, poetry blogs, or anything else Black African American poem related using the PoetrySoup search engine at the top of the page.

• All Famous Black African American Poems

Written by Tupac Shakur | The Power of a Smile The power of a gun can kill and the power of fire can burn the power of wind can chill and the power of a mind can learn the power of anger can rage inside until it tears u apart but the power of a smile especially yours can heal a frozen heart

Written by Maya Angelou | Still I Rise You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

Written by Maya Angelou | The Lesson I keep on dying again. Veins collapse, opening like the Small fists of sleeping Children. Memory of old tombs, Rotting flesh and worms do Not convince me against The challenge. The years And cold defeat live deep in Lines along my face. They dull my eyes, yet I keep on dying, Because I love to live.

Written by Tupac Shakur | Life Through My Eyes Life through my bloodshot eyes would scare a square 2 death poverty,murder,violence and never a moment 2 rest Fun and games are few but treasured like gold 2 me cuz I realize that I must return 2 my spot in poverty But mock my words when I say my heart will not exist unless my destiny comes through and puts an end 2 all of this

Written by Tupac Shakur | The Rose that Grew from Concrete Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.

Written by Alice Walker | We Alone We alone can devalue gold by not caring if it falls or rises in the marketplace. Wherever there is gold there is a chain, you know, and if your chain is gold so much the worse for you. Feathers, shells and sea-shaped stones are all as rare. This could be our revolution: to love what is plentiful as much as what's scarce.

Written by Langston Hughes | Still Here I been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me, Looks like between 'em they done Tried to make me Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin'-- But I don't care! I'm still here!

Written by Maya Angelou | Touched by An Angel We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life. Love arrives and in its train come ecstasies old memories of pleasure ancient histories of pain. Yet if we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls. We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of love's light we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free.

Written by Nikki Giovanni | Love Is Some people forget that love is tucking you in and kissing you "Good night" no matter how young or old you are Some people don't remember that love is listening and laughing and asking questions no matter what your age Few recognize that love is commitment, responsibility no fun at all unless Love is You and me

Written by Langston Hughes | Dream Deferred What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?