1973 Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Photograph Collection
Item set
- 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 The Festival opened with an Exhibition of historical documents related to Phillis Wheatley and the unveiling of a specially commissioned bronze bust of Phillis Wheatley by famous African American sculptor, Elizabeth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 Movement
- Type
- Image
- Format
- silver gelatin photograph
Items
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Nikki Giovanni reciting her original poetryNikki Giovanni reciting her original poetry at Poetry Reading III of the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival.
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Nikki Giovanni with Tougaloo College Gospel ChoirDuring 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.
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Benjamin Payton Correspondence, page 2Second page of a letter to Benjamin Payton soliciting funds for the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival
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Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Participant: Sonia SanchezSonia Sanchez interacting with fellow participants and students during the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival.
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Margaret Walker with Elizabeth Catlett bust of Phillis WheatleyMargaret 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.
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Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Participant: June JordanJune Jordan biography
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Correspondence: Margaret Walker to Benjamin PaytonFirst page of a letter written by Margaret Walker to Dr. Benjamin Payton, Director of Minority Affairs, Ford Foundation soliciting financial support from the Ford Foundation for the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival.
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Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Participant: Alice WalkerWriter Alice Walker signing autographs in Jackson State bookstore during Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Book Fair and Autograph Party
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Alice Walker Speaking at Phillis Wheatley Poetry FestivalWriter Alice Walker reading her essay, "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens" during Poetry Reading II at the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival
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Jackson State College String EnsembleThe Jackson State College String Ensemble conducted by Josiah J. Sampson, perform during the opening reception of the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival.
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Jackson State College ChoraleJackson State College Chorale led by Raymond I. Johnson perform during the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival opening program.
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Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Participant: Etta Moten BarnettEtta Moten Barnett, 1901-2004
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Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Reading VA 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.
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Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Participant: Carolyn RodgersCarolyn M. Rodgers, 1941-2010
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Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Participants Appear on Local Talk ShowPhillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Poets, Margaret Burroughs, Mari Evans, Sonia Sanchez, and Carolyn Rodgers appear on popular WLBT talk show, Coffee with Judy, with host Judy Moon Denson
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Audience shot of the Opening Ceremony of the Phillis Wheatley Poetry FestivalPhotograph of the Opening Ceremony of the Phillis Wheatley Poetry, All-Purpose Room, Jacob L. Reddix Student Union
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JSU English Professor Shepherds Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival ParticipantsJSU English Professor, Iley B. Mohamed interacts with Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Participants, Audre Lorde and Mari Evans after classroom presentation.
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Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival Participants walking near JSU's Ayer HallMalaika Wangara, Charlayne Hunter Gault, June Jordan, and Carol Parks walking near Ayer Hall during the 1973 Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival.