A Psychiatrist Reflects on Black Poetry Day

POETRY FOR INCLUSION

Crystal stair awaits

Dunbar and mask reunite

Black poetry thrives

Background. Librarian, folk musician, and storyteller Stanley A. Ransom orginated Black Poetry Day to be celebrated annually on October 17. The date was chosen to honor Jupiter Hammon, whose poem was published in 1761 and was considered to be a founder of African-American literature. Ransom received a Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History for the book America’s First Negro Poet; Jupiter Hammon of Long Island.

Dr Clark is an outpatient psychiatrist at Prisma Health-Upstate and clinical associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville. He served on the American Psychiatric Association’s Task Force to Address Structural Racism Throughout Psychiatry, and he currently serves as the Diversity and Inclusion section editor and advisory board member for Psychiatric Times^TM.