Voices of the Black Experience: Writing about African American Poetry

Voices of the Black Experience: Writing about African American Poetry

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to write an essay about African American poetry.

Explain to the students what the objective of the lesson is and what they will be able to do by the end of it.

What do you already know about African American Poetry?

What is African American Poetry?

African American poetry is poetry written by African Americans that explores the Black experience and addresses issues of identity, culture, and social injustice.

Define African American poetry and its purpose.

The Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement in the 1920s and 1930s that celebrated African American art, literature, and music. It was a time of great creativity and produced many influential poets such as Langston Hughes and Claude McKay.

Give a brief history of the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on African American poetry.

Important Themes

Important themes in African American poetry include racism, identity, oppression, resistance, and the Black experience. These themes are often explored through personal experiences and historical events.

Discuss some of the important themes in African American poetry.

The Power of Imagery

African American poets often use powerful imagery to convey their messages. They may use metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to create vivid images in the reader's mind.

Discuss the importance of imagery in African American poetry and provide examples.

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was a prominent African American poet during the Harlem Renaissance. His poetry often addressed the experiences of working-class Black people and the struggles they faced.

Introduce Langston Hughes and his contributions to African American poetry.

Claude McKay

Claude McKay was a Jamaican-American writer and poet who was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance. His poetry often addressed issues of racism and colonialism.

Introduce Claude McKay and his contributions to African American poetry.

Writing an Essay

When writing an essay about African American poetry, it is important to choose a theme or topic that interests you. You should also do research on the poet and their background, as well as the historical context of the poem. Use quotes and analysis to support your arguments.

Provide tips on how to write an essay about African American poetry.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.