List of African American poets

This is a list of notable African American poets. For other African Americans, see Lists of African Americans.

Ron Allen, poet, playwright
Elizabeth Alexander, poet, essayist, playwright
Maya Angelou, novelist, poet, and activist
Amiri Baraka, poet, writer, activist, and essayist
Gwendolyn B. Bennett, poet, writer, journalist, and artist
Arna Bontemps, poet, novelist, and librarian
Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, author, teacher
Lucille Clifton, poet, writer, and educator
Jayne Cortez, poet, activist, publisher
Countee Cullen, poet, novelist, and playwright
Frank Marshall Davis, poet, journalist
Paul Laurence Dunbar, poet, novelist
Krista Franklin, poet, visual artist
Nikki Giovanni, poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator
Frances E. W. Harper, poet
Yona Harvey, poet, professor
Robert Hayden, poet, essayist, and educator
Gil Scott-Heron, poet, author
Langston Hughes, poet, activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist
Erica Hunt, poet, essayist, and teacher
Marilyn Nelson, poet, translator, professor
Pat Parker, poet, activist
Ishmael Reed, poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, playwright, editor, and publisher
Sonia Sanchez, poet, playwright, essayist, educator, and activist
Patricia Smith, poet, playwright, author, teacher, and journalist
Tracy K. Smith, poet, educator
Natasha Trethewey, poet, professor
Alice Walker, novelist, writer, poet, and activist
Phillis Wheatley, poet
Richard Wright, novelist, poet, and essayist
Al Young, poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and professor
Kevin Young, poet, professor, editor, and literary critic