Gaston Neal: 100 Years of Black Writing

Object Details

Scope and Contents: Gaston Neal talks about what poetry is and the origins of it. He begins with a discussion of Egyptian writing, continues through to the oral tradition of Africa, and finally with poetry from African Americans. Neal reads folk tales and poetry from Africa; and poetry by African Americans, including Phillis Wheatley, Paul Laurence Dunbar, James Weldon Johnson, Claude McKay, and Sterling Brown. He also reads a few of his poems. Three Washington, D.C. poets read poetry. The poems cover topics of black history, black identity, and religion. John Kinard introduces Gaston Neal.; Lecture and poetry reading. Part of ACM Museum Events, PR, and Ceremonies Recordings. Some of the content repeats over assets. AV003446: dated 19690217. AV003519, AV003515, AV003532, AV003445: undated.

Topic: African Americans; Poetry; African American poets; Poets; Oral history; Black people -- Race identity; Black people -- History; Religion

Place: Anacostia (Washington, D.C.); Washington (D.C.); United States; Africa

Collection Citation: Anacostia Community Museum Programs and Projects, 1967-1989, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Local Numbers: ACMA AV003519 ACMA AV003515 ACMA AV003532 ACMA AV003445-1 ACMA AV003445-2