Michael S. Harper
Encyclopedia
Michael Steven Harper is an American poet
from Brooklyn
, who was the Poet Laureate of Rhode Island from 1988 to 1993. He has published ten books of poetry, two of which, "Dear John, Dear Coltrane" (1970) and "Images of Kin" (1977), have been nominated for the National Book Award
. A great deal of his poetry is influenced by jazz
and history
. Many of his poems have been included as important examples of African American literature
and jazz poetry
in various anthologies. Harper often writes about his wife, Shirley (commonly referred to as "Shirl"), their children, their ancestors, as well as friends and various black historical and cultural figures.
and M.A.
from California State University, Los Angeles
, and an M.F.A.
from the University of Iowa
.
As of 2011, Harper lives in Barrington, Rhode Island
. He is the longest serving professor of English at Brown University
, where he continues to teach poetry workshops to undergraduates.
In 1993, Nathan A. Scott
in the "Afro-American Poetry" article of the Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics wrote, "Harper has created a body of work which, though it has won much respect and admiration, deserves to be far more widely known than it is."
He has released one CD, of poetry accompanied by jazz music:
As editor:
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
from Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, who was the Poet Laureate of Rhode Island from 1988 to 1993. He has published ten books of poetry, two of which, "Dear John, Dear Coltrane" (1970) and "Images of Kin" (1977), have been nominated for the National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
. A great deal of his poetry is influenced by jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. Many of his poems have been included as important examples of African American literature
African American literature
African-American literature is the body of literature produced in the United States by writers of African descent. The genre traces its origins to the works of such late 18th century writers as Phillis Wheatley and Olaudah Equiano, reaching early high points with slave narratives and the Harlem...
and jazz poetry
Jazz poetry
Jazz poetry is poetry that "demonstrates jazz-like rhythm or the feel of improvisation". During the 1920s, several poets began to eschew the conventions of rhythm and style; among these were Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot, and E. E. Cummings...
in various anthologies. Harper often writes about his wife, Shirley (commonly referred to as "Shirl"), their children, their ancestors, as well as friends and various black historical and cultural figures.
Biography
Harper earned his B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
, and an M.F.A.
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
As of 2011, Harper lives in Barrington, Rhode Island
Barrington, Rhode Island
Barrington is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 16,310 at the 2010 census.In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Barrington sixth on its list of the 100 best places to live in the United States.-History:...
. He is the longest serving professor of English at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he continues to teach poetry workshops to undergraduates.
In 1993, Nathan A. Scott
Nathan Scott (composer)
Nathan Scott was an American film score and television composer. He composed, conducted, arranged and orchestrated more than 850 separate credits in television, as well as the music for more than 100 films...
in the "Afro-American Poetry" article of the Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics wrote, "Harper has created a body of work which, though it has won much respect and admiration, deserves to be far more widely known than it is."
Works
As writer:- 1970: Dear John, Dear Coltrane, nominated for the National Book AwardNational Book AwardThe National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
- 1971: History Is Your Own Heartbeat, won the Black Academy of Arts & Letters Award for poetry
- 1972: Song: "I want a Witness"
- 1973: Debridement (also included in Images of Kin 1977)
- 1975: Nightmare Begins Responsibility
- 1977: Images of Kin, won the Melville-Cane Award from the Poetry Society of AmericaPoetry Society of AmericaThe Poetry Society of America is a literary organization founded in 1910 by poets, editors, and artists including Witter Bynner. It is the oldest poetry organization in the United States. Past members of the have included such renowned writers as Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent...
; nominated for the National Book AwardNational Book AwardThe National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book... - 1985: Healing Song for the Inner Ear
- 1995: Honorable Amendments
- 2000: Songlines in Michaeltree: New and Collected Poems
- 2002: Selected Poems, ARC Publications
He has released one CD, of poetry accompanied by jazz music:
- 2004: Double Take: Jazz - Poetry Conversations, Paul Austerlitz, bass clarinetist/composer, innova Records, made through the American Composers Forum's Recording Assistance Program, underwritten by the McKnight Foundation.
As editor:
- Chant of Saints: A Gathering of Literature, Art and Scholarship (1979, ed. with Robert B. SteptoRobert B. SteptoRobert B. Stepto is a literary theorist and professor of African American studies, English and American Studies at Yale University. He is best known for his 1979 book From Behind the Veil...
)
Further reading
- Lerner, BenBen LernerBenjamin S. Lerner is an American poet, novelist, and critic. He was awarded the Hayden Carruth prize for his cycle of fifty-two sonnets, . In 2004, Library Journal named it one of the year's twelve best books of poetry...
(ed.).To Cut Is To Heal: A Critical Companion to Michael S. Harper's "Debridement". Providence, RI: Paradigm Press, 2000. 9780945926573