Poetry generally is not a genre I enjoy but I was pleasantly surprised by “Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices” by Walter Dean Myers. This collection of poems was inspired by Edgar Lee Masters' “Spoon River Anthology” and kept me engrossed and entertained. There are 54 poems each told by a different character and through these characters Myers writes of the Harlem of his youth. The poems celebrate the cultural richness and diversity that was Harlem in its heyday. Each character is identified by name, occupation and age and each describes a sliver of their life in a poem. Myers addresses the difficult aspects of life in Harlem such as racism, poverty, segregation as well as celebrates the leaders, poets, artists and musicians of the time.Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices is illustrated with black and white photos from Myers personal collection. The photos are not of the characters telling the poems, but add interest and depth to the book. I especially liked the cover photo of a young Duke Ellington. In it, he and the women he is with seem very happy and carefree; this reminds me that despite the ugliness of discrimination and poverty people still managed to have full, happy lives. They did not let their situations define them.
Myers’ poems are easy to read; some are entertaining while others are thought provoking. I believe students in middle school and high school would enjoy reading these poems. I think African-American students would especially like this collection since it the people it explores are African-Americans, but I believe most students could be engaged by the poetry. This book was an ALA Notable/Best books in 2005 and was a starred review by the School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Review and Publishers Weekly. To hook students, I would read a few of the poems such as "Delia Pierce", a poem of a hairdresser who insists that she "ain't the kind to talk behind nobody's back" as she gossips about clients.
I liked your hook! Now I want to read more of the poem about the hairdresser who "doesn't" talk about people! It sounds like some poems are serious while others are funny, I think that helps students get through a serious topic.
ReplyDeleteAnother by Walter Dean Myers. I probably should read some of his stuff. The juxtapositioning of funny and serious in subtle mixture is something you see a lot in really successful YA pieces of literature. It makes me want to read this.
ReplyDeleteI love your hook. That sounds funny. I agree. I think these poems could help African-American students connect with their heritage. These poems could also be good for other students. They could give those students another perspective on life. The photos sound very interesting. I believe that they would enhance the poems greatly. They would give students a better appriciation of the text.
ReplyDeleteI think it is really neat how each poem is written by a different author and how there is a little bit about each author's life in the poem. This book sounds very interesting for teachers and kids.
ReplyDeleteGreat author choice. :-) Looks like an engrossing book. I'll have to check it out. I also liked your hook.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is the first thing that attracted me- Duke and his lady friends look as if they are ready to break into the jitterbug dance! I will have to pick this one up. I am interested to read about the musicians the Myers writes about. And is this poetry all nostalgic or does Myers write any about the Harlem of today?
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that Kim will recite the hairdresser poem in class :-)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an important book to help break stereotypes. Too often students and the rest of us here the word "Harlem" and conjure up a picture in our head that is not quite accurate. I think this would be a good read, as many of Myers books are, about diversity.
ReplyDelete