List of African American poets

This is a list of notable African American poets. For other African Americans, see Lists of African Americans.


 * Ron Allen, poet, playwright
 * Elizabeth Alexander, poet, essayist, playwright
 * Maya Angelou, novelist, poet, and activist
 * Amiri Baraka, poet, writer, activist, and essayist
 * Gwendolyn B. Bennett, poet, writer, journalist, and artist
 * Arna Bontemps, poet, novelist, and librarian
 * Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, author, teacher
 * Lucille Clifton, poet, writer, and educator
 * Jayne Cortez, poet, activist, publisher
 * Countee Cullen, poet, novelist, and playwright
 * Frank Marshall Davis, poet, journalist
 * Paul Laurence Dunbar, poet, novelist
 * Krista Franklin, poet, visual artist
 * Nikki Giovanni, poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator
 * Frances E. W. Harper, poet
 * Yona Harvey, poet, professor
 * Robert Hayden, poet, essayist, and educator
 * Gil Scott-Heron, poet, author
 * Langston Hughes, poet, activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist
 * Erica Hunt, poet, essayist, and teacher
 * Marilyn Nelson, poet, translator, professor
 * Pat Parker, poet, activist
 * Ishmael Reed, poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, playwright, editor, and publisher
 * Sonia Sanchez, poet, playwright, essayist, educator, and activist
 * Patricia Smith, poet, playwright, author, teacher, and journalist
 * Tracy K. Smith, poet, educator
 * Natasha Trethewey, poet, professor
 * Alice Walker, novelist, writer, poet, and activist
 * Phillis Wheatley, poet
 * Richard Wright, novelist, poet, and essayist
 * Al Young, poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and professor
 * Kevin Young, poet, professor, editor, and literary critic