Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance

Gr 7 Up–Grimes spotlights the work of lesser-known Black women poets of the Harlem Renaissance. The book begins with an explanation of the Harlem Renaissance and Golden Shovel poems. The collection is divided into three parts: “Heritage,” “Earth Mother,” and “Taking Notice.” Golden Shovel poetry uses “a short poem in its entirety, or a line from the poem, called a striking line.” The poem or striking line is then used “to create a new poem using the words from the original.” Most of Grimes’s poems incorporate lines of text or the entirety of a short poem into each verse. The text of the featured poet, which is used to create the new poem, is highlighted in bold type. The juxtaposition of Grimes’s poetry and the original works provide a compelling reflection on gender, race, politics, and everyday life. Full-page, vibrant illustrations rendered by a variety of artists are included throughout, such as a woman whose head is a volcano for Lucy Ariel Williams’s “Prelude” and “Slow Burn” by Grimes. Educators should note that the poem “Flag Salute” by Esther Popel describes lynching. Back matter includes brief biographies of the poets and artists, an index, and a list of sources.