Malcolm X And the Poetics of Haki Madhubuti

Illustrating the power of oratory in the 1960s and its successful merging with the art of that era, this text examines the significance of Malcolm X as a literary muse for Haki Madhubuti, one of America’s premiere poets and essayists. Long after the death of Malcolm X, Haki Mudhubuti continued to expound on X’s major oratorical themes, including the effort to destroy the racial appellation ＂Negro＂ and to create new definitions for words that relate to Africa. X’s persistence in oratory during the 1960s influenced an art movement that changed the psychology and behavior of American Blacks. Through a historical and literary analysis of Black poetry, this text charts how selected writers exhibited great tensions around issues of race until the arrival of the 1960s generation of artists. This book contributes to a broader understanding of Malcolm X and his impact on American writing and culture.

Regina Jennings lives in Philadelphia and teaches at Rutgers University.