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A review by thebookishfeminist
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes
5.0
Nikki Grimes has done it again! "Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance" is a stunning collection of poems written by people whose voices are all too often left out of our discussion and exploration of the Harlem Renaissance. The women of the Harlem Renaissance have not been taught or highlighted as much as their male counterparts, a mirror of so many different elements of our society. Nikki Grimes set out to curate a collection of works from women who were part of this movement of writers, artists, and musicians but who were not often included in the conversation.
The collection is laid out in three different parts: Heritage, Earth Mother, and Taking Notice. The themes of identity, environment, and activism are prominent and powerful. A really unique addition to this collection, however, is Grimes' employment of the Golden Shovel. Essentially, she takes one line from each poem and creates her own poem, with each line ending with one of the words from that phrase. So, in addition to the poetry from legends like Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Jessie Redmon Fauset, and Esther Popel, we also get to read Grimes' poetic response to or elaboration on each one. It's a masterpiece that will allow younger readers the chance not only to see how important Black womxn's voices were during the Harlem Renaissance, but also how important they continue to be. This is a collection that shows us that we can honor the past while not ignoring the future. It is a collection that truly celebrates Black writers, Black communities, and Black futures. I cannot recommend this collection enough!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance.
The collection is laid out in three different parts: Heritage, Earth Mother, and Taking Notice. The themes of identity, environment, and activism are prominent and powerful. A really unique addition to this collection, however, is Grimes' employment of the Golden Shovel. Essentially, she takes one line from each poem and creates her own poem, with each line ending with one of the words from that phrase. So, in addition to the poetry from legends like Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Jessie Redmon Fauset, and Esther Popel, we also get to read Grimes' poetic response to or elaboration on each one. It's a masterpiece that will allow younger readers the chance not only to see how important Black womxn's voices were during the Harlem Renaissance, but also how important they continue to be. This is a collection that shows us that we can honor the past while not ignoring the future. It is a collection that truly celebrates Black writers, Black communities, and Black futures. I cannot recommend this collection enough!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance.