I Am The Darker Brother – Reviewing Classics
Simon Pulse, (reprint edition) 1997
Genre
ISBN: 0689808690
192 pages
Synopsis
A collection of African American poetry from the 20th century originally compiled in the late 60s, I Am The Darker Brother is one of the few anthologies of African American poetry amassed specifically for younger readers. From cover to cover, each poet leaves a legacy about life in America as ‘the other’. This edition adds more current writers that carved out a career post 1968, like Maya Angelou, Rita Dove, and Ishmael Reed.
Critique
Not only is this collection poignant and educational for younger readers, but I believe that it is an absolutely essential read for the youth of America. Too quickly people forget about the past, and these poems are necessary in order that history doesn’t continue to repeat itself. There are so many phenomenal gems by well-known authors and poets throughout the 20th century, and every single one of them is still relevant to our culture today. The list of poets in this anthology is amazing, and it’s an important read for anyone in order to show us a mirror, reflecting the current state of ourselves in hopes that we will grow and expand our understanding of life and humanity.
Rating Rubric
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For the Classroom
This text is an essential reader, and should be in every classroom not only as a companion but a text to study as part of general curriculum. Specifically, its most relevant for cultural and historical studies as well as writing classes.
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