1973 Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Photograph Collection
Resource class
Collection
Title
1973 Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Photograph Collection
Description
Jackson State College's Institute for the Study of History, Life and Culture of Black People hosted the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival celebrating the Bicentennial Publication of Phillis Wheatley's book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, 1773. The Festival opened with an Exhibition of historical documents related to Phillis Wheatley and the unveiling of a specially commissioned bronze bust of Phillis Wheatley by famous African American sculptor, Elizabeth Catlett. Institute Director, Dr. Margaret Walker Alexander convened twenty African American women poets to read their poetry at the Festival. Five poetry reading sessions were held and often included music and dance. Poets included Marion Alexander, Linda Brown Bragg, Margaret Burroughs, Lucille Clifton, Margaret Danner, Mari Evans, Sarah Webster Fabio, Nikki Giovanni, Carole Gregory, June Jordan, Audre Lorde, Naomi Long, Madgett, Gloria C. Oden, Carolyn Rodgers, Sonia Sanchez, Alice Walker, Margaret Walker and Malaika Ayo Wangara. Dance and Dramatic presentations were given by Tommie "Tonea" Stewart, Pearl Primus and Vinie Burrows. Also participating were Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Paula Giddings, Ida Lewis, Dorothy Porter and Doris Evans Saunders. Funding for the Festival was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mississippi Bicentennial Commission, The Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Committee for the Humanities (Mississippi Humanities Council) and Jackson State College (now University).
Creator
Dr. Margaret Walker Alexander, Institute Director
name
Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival
Source
Margaret Walker Personal Papers, Margaret Walker Center, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi.
Date Created
11-04-1973
Subject
African Americans in literature, African American women writers, Black Publishing, Black Arts MovementSee all item sets with this value
During the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Nikki Giovanni shared the stage with the Tougaloo College Gospel Choir who sang gospel songs and spirituals while Nikki Giovanni read her original poetry.
Margaret Walker commissioned Elizabeth Catlett to create a bronze bust of Phillis Wheatley based on the Scipio Moorhead engraving of Phillis Wheatley. The bust was unveiled during the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival.
The Jackson State College String Ensemble conducted by Josiah J. Sampson, perform during the opening reception of the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival.
A group shot of the panel participants for Poetry Reading V of the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival. Jackson State's Institute for the Study of History, Life, and Culture of Black People (now known as the Margaret Walker Center) sponsored a festival celebrating the bicentennial publication of Phillis Wheatley's book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral 1773.
