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Haki R. Madhubuti

May 02, 2024

Haki R. Madhubuti (born Don Luther Lee on February 23, 1942) is an African-American author, educator, and poet, as well as a publisher and operator of black-themed bookstore. He is particularly recognized in connection with the founding in 1967 of Third World Press, considered the oldest independent black publishing house in the United States.[1][2]

Haki R. Madhubuti
Born
Don Luther Lee

(1942-02-23) February 23, 1942 (age 82)
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Other namesDon L. Lee
Alma materIowa Writers' Workshop
Occupation(s)Poet
Author
Publisher
Known forThird World Press
MovementBlack Arts Movement
SpouseSafisha Madhubuti
AwardsAmerican Book Award

Madhubuti is a much sought-after poet and lecturer, and has convened workshops and served as guest/keynote speaker at thousands of colleges, universities, libraries and community centers in the U.S. and abroad.

The name Haki means "just" or "justice," and Madhubuti means "precise, accurate and dependable," both names deriving from the Swahili language. He changed his name in 1974.[3]

Biography edit

Early years and education edit

Born Donald Luther Lee in Little Rock, Arkansas,[4] Madhubuti adopted his Swahili name after visiting Africa in 1974.[3] He was raised in Detroit, Michigan, with his mother until the age of 16, when she was murdered.[5] Madhubuti claims that his mother, Maxine, is the prime force behind his creativity and interest in black literature and arts.[6] After serving in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963, Madhubuti received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa.[7]

Black Arts Movement and Third World Press edit

Madhubuti became deeply interested in and influenced by Black Arts Movement (BAM) figures such as Richard Wright at an early age.[7] He is a major contributor to the Black literary tradition, in particular through his early association with BAM beginning in the mid-1960s, and has had a lasting and major influence.[8] Recognizing the lack of resources and institutions dedicated to black scholars, Madhubuti has become a leading proponent of independent Black institutions.

In December 1967, Madhubuti met with Carolyn Rodgers and Johari Amini in the basement of a South Side Chicago apartment to found Third World Press, an outlet for African-American literature.[3] Forty years later in 2007, the company continued to thrive in a multimillion-dollar facility. It is considered the largest independent black publishing house in the U.S.[9] Over the years, this press would publish works for Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gwendolyn Brooks, as well as Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Sterling Plumpp and Pearl Cleage.[10][11]

Writing style and publications edit

Heavily influenced by his creative predecessor Gwendolyn Brooks, Madhubuti's poetry is similar marked by a rhythmic, experimental style, frequently in the free verse form. Also like Brooks, Madhubuti's poetic bibliography is characterized by a shift from the personal to the political over the span of his career. He has dedicated a number of poems to her and is the founder and previously the director emeritus of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing.[12]

Over the years, he has published 28 books[13] (some under his former name, "Don L. Lee") and remains one of the world's best-selling authors of poetry and non-fiction, with books in print in excess of 3 million. His subsequent books include Claiming Earth: Race, Rage, Rape, Redemption (1994), GroundWork: New and Selected Poems 1966–1996 (1996), and HeartLove: Wedding and Love Poems (1998).

Madhubuti has also co-edited two volumes of literary works from Gallery 37: releasing The Spirit (1998), and Describe the Moment (2000). His poetry and essays were published in over 30 anthologies from 1997 to 2001. He also wrote Tough Notes: A Healing Call For Creating Exceptional Black Men (2002). Perhaps his most famous work, Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?: The African American Family in Transition, a nonfiction book about African-American social issues, was published in 1990 and has sold more than 1,000,000 copies.[7]

Other initiatives edit

Besides co-founding a publishing company, Madhubuti co-founded other initiatives including (with Larry Neal) the Black Books Bulletin, the Institute of Positive Education/New Concept Development Center (established in 1969), and the Betty Shabazz International Charter School (established 1998) in Chicago, Illinois.[3] He is also a founder and board member of the National Association of Black Book Publishers, a founder and chairman of the board of The International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent, and founder and director of the National Black Writers Retreat. Prior to stepping down, Madhubuti held the position of Distinguished University Professor, co-founder and director emeritus of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing and director of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at Chicago State University.[14]

Personal life edit

Madhubuti's 2005 book, Yellow Black, is an autobiographical novel detailing the first 21 years of his life.[15] He currently resides in Chicago with his wife Safisha (Carol D. Lee), Professor Emerita at Northwestern University.[7]

Awards and honors edit

Among the honors and recognition Madhubuti has received are the Distinguished Writers Award, Middle Atlantic Writers Association (1984), American Book Award (1991); African-American Arts Alliance (1993), and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.[16]

Selected publications edit

  • Dynamite Voices I: Black Poets of the 1960s (essays; Detroit, MI: Broadside Press, 1971)
  • (Editor, with P. L. Brown and F. Ward) To Gwen with Love (Chicago, IL: Johnson Publishing, 1971)
  • Book of Life (poems; Detroit, MI: Broadside Press, 1973)
  • Killing Memory, Seeking Ancestors (poems; Lotus, 1987)
  • Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?: The African American Family in Transition (1990)
  • Claiming Earth: Race, Rage, Rape, Redemption (Chicago, IL: Third World Press, 1994)
  • GroundWork: New and Selected Poems 1966–1996 (Chicago, IL: Third World Press, 1996)
  • (Editor, with Karenga) Million Man March/Day of Absence: A Commemorative Anthology (foreword by Gwendolyn Brooks and introduction by Bakari Kitwana; Chicago, IL: Third World Press, 1996)
  • HeartLove: Wedding and Love Poems (Chicago, IL: Third World Press, 1998)
  • Tough Notes: A Healing Call for Creating Exceptional Black Men: Affırmations, Meditations, Readings, and Strategies (Chicago, IL: Third World Press, 2002)
  • Yellow Black: The First Twenty-One Years of a Poet's Life (2005)

References edit

  1. ^ Reid, Calvin. "Third World Press's 50 Years of Black Literature and Politics". Publishers Weekly. No. September 29, 2017. PWxyz, LLC. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "About Third World Press Foundation". Third World Foundation. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Haki Madhubuti". Poetry Foundation. 5 April 2022.
  4. ^ Ards, Angela (2002). "Haki Madhubuti: the measure of a man". IndexArticles | Black Issue Book Review. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Thomas, Mike (August 2, 2021). "Haki R. Madhubuti". Chicago. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Reardon, Patrick T. (August 29, 2018). "Haki Madhubuti has lived his life as an act of defiance". Chicago Reader. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d Turner, Melissa (December 1, 2009). "Haki R. Madhubuti (Don L. Lee) (1942–)". blackpast.org. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  8. ^ "Library System - Howard University". howard.edu. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  9. ^ Alexander, Amy (September 18, 2006). "Tavis Smiley's Covenant". The Nation.
  10. ^ "Black America Web". Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  11. ^ Norton Anthology of African American Literature, vol. 2 (Third ed.). New York: W. W. Norton. 2014. pp. 858–860. ISBN 9780393923704.
  12. ^ Haki R. Madhubuti, "Gwendolyn Brooks", Poetry Foundation.
  13. ^ "National Advisory Council". americanwritersmuseum.org. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  14. ^ "Haki Madhubuti". poets.org. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  15. ^ Gordon, Ed (November 2, 2005). "'Yellow Black': Autobiography of a Poet". NPR.
  16. ^ "Madhubuti, Haki R." Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved March 5, 2022.

Further reading edit

  • Bosman, Julie (September 29, 2017). "Haki Madhubuti, the Book Publisher on the South Side". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  • Reardon, Patrick T (August 26, 2018). "Chicago History: Haki Madhubuti, the most influential African-American leader you've probably never heard of".

External links edit

  • . Evening of Poetry at Hopkins House. October 6, 2006. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007.
  • Haki Madhubuti Stars in Motherland (film)
  • Photographs and posters featuring Haki Madhubuti from the EBR African American Cultural Life digital collection, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
  • Discogs
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
  • "Haki Madhubuti Pt. 1: Taught By Women"
  • "An Interview with Haki R. Madhubuti: Taught by Women & other Writers". Moraine Valley Community College Library

May 02, 2024
haki, madhubuti, born, luther, february, 1942, african, american, author, educator, poet, well, publisher, operator, black, themed, bookstore, particularly, recognized, connection, with, founding, 1967, third, world, press, considered, oldest, independent, bla. Haki R Madhubuti born Don Luther Lee on February 23 1942 is an African American author educator and poet as well as a publisher and operator of black themed bookstore He is particularly recognized in connection with the founding in 1967 of Third World Press considered the oldest independent black publishing house in the United States 1 2 Haki R MadhubutiBornDon Luther Lee 1942 02 23 February 23 1942 age 82 Little Rock Arkansas United StatesOther namesDon L LeeAlma materIowa Writers WorkshopOccupation s PoetAuthorPublisherKnown forThird World PressMovementBlack Arts MovementSpouseSafisha MadhubutiAwardsAmerican Book Award Madhubuti is a much sought after poet and lecturer and has convened workshops and served as guest keynote speaker at thousands of colleges universities libraries and community centers in the U S and abroad The name Haki means just or justice and Madhubuti means precise accurate and dependable both names deriving from the Swahili language He changed his name in 1974 3 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years and education 1 2 Black Arts Movement and Third World Press 2 Writing style and publications 3 Other initiatives 4 Personal life 5 Awards and honors 6 Selected publications 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksBiography editEarly years and education edit Born Donald Luther Lee in Little Rock Arkansas 4 Madhubuti adopted his Swahili name after visiting Africa in 1974 3 He was raised in Detroit Michigan with his mother until the age of 16 when she was murdered 5 Madhubuti claims that his mother Maxine is the prime force behind his creativity and interest in black literature and arts 6 After serving in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963 Madhubuti received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop at the University of Iowa 7 Black Arts Movement and Third World Press edit Madhubuti became deeply interested in and influenced by Black Arts Movement BAM figures such as Richard Wright at an early age 7 He is a major contributor to the Black literary tradition in particular through his early association with BAM beginning in the mid 1960s and has had a lasting and major influence 8 Recognizing the lack of resources and institutions dedicated to black scholars Madhubuti has become a leading proponent of independent Black institutions In December 1967 Madhubuti met with Carolyn Rodgers and Johari Amini in the basement of a South Side Chicago apartment to found Third World Press an outlet for African American literature 3 Forty years later in 2007 the company continued to thrive in a multimillion dollar facility It is considered the largest independent black publishing house in the U S 9 Over the years this press would publish works for Pulitzer Prize winning author Gwendolyn Brooks as well as Amiri Baraka Sonia Sanchez Sterling Plumpp and Pearl Cleage 10 11 Writing style and publications editHeavily influenced by his creative predecessor Gwendolyn Brooks Madhubuti s poetry is similar marked by a rhythmic experimental style frequently in the free verse form Also like Brooks Madhubuti s poetic bibliography is characterized by a shift from the personal to the political over the span of his career He has dedicated a number of poems to her and is the founder and previously the director emeritus of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing 12 Over the years he has published 28 books 13 some under his former name Don L Lee and remains one of the world s best selling authors of poetry and non fiction with books in print in excess of 3 million His subsequent books include Claiming Earth Race Rage Rape Redemption 1994 GroundWork New and Selected Poems 1966 1996 1996 and HeartLove Wedding and Love Poems 1998 Madhubuti has also co edited two volumes of literary works from Gallery 37 releasing The Spirit 1998 and Describe the Moment 2000 His poetry and essays were published in over 30 anthologies from 1997 to 2001 He also wrote Tough Notes A Healing Call For Creating Exceptional Black Men 2002 Perhaps his most famous work Black Men Obsolete Single Dangerous The African American Family in Transition a nonfiction book about African American social issues was published in 1990 and has sold more than 1 000 000 copies 7 Other initiatives editBesides co founding a publishing company Madhubuti co founded other initiatives including with Larry Neal the Black Books Bulletin the Institute of Positive Education New Concept Development Center established in 1969 and the Betty Shabazz International Charter School established 1998 in Chicago Illinois 3 He is also a founder and board member of the National Association of Black Book Publishers a founder and chairman of the board of The International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent and founder and director of the National Black Writers Retreat Prior to stepping down Madhubuti held the position of Distinguished University Professor co founder and director emeritus of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing and director of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at Chicago State University 14 Personal life editMadhubuti s 2005 book Yellow Black is an autobiographical novel detailing the first 21 years of his life 15 He currently resides in Chicago with his wife Safisha Carol D Lee Professor Emerita at Northwestern University 7 Awards and honors editAmong the honors and recognition Madhubuti has received are the Distinguished Writers Award Middle Atlantic Writers Association 1984 American Book Award 1991 African American Arts Alliance 1993 and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities 16 Selected publications editDynamite Voices I Black Poets of the 1960s essays Detroit MI Broadside Press 1971 Editor with P L Brown and F Ward To Gwen with Love Chicago IL Johnson Publishing 1971 Book of Life poems Detroit MI Broadside Press 1973 Killing Memory Seeking Ancestors poems Lotus 1987 Black Men Obsolete Single Dangerous The African American Family in Transition 1990 Claiming Earth Race Rage Rape Redemption Chicago IL Third World Press 1994 GroundWork New and Selected Poems 1966 1996 Chicago IL Third World Press 1996 Editor with Karenga Million Man March Day of Absence A Commemorative Anthology foreword by Gwendolyn Brooks and introduction by Bakari Kitwana Chicago IL Third World Press 1996 HeartLove Wedding and Love Poems Chicago IL Third World Press 1998 Tough Notes A Healing Call for Creating Exceptional Black Men Affirmations Meditations Readings and Strategies Chicago IL Third World Press 2002 Yellow Black The First Twenty One Years of a Poet s Life 2005 References edit Reid Calvin Third World Press s 50 Years of Black Literature and Politics Publishers Weekly No September 29 2017 PWxyz LLC Retrieved March 5 2022 About Third World Press Foundation Third World Foundation Retrieved March 5 2022 a b c d Haki Madhubuti Poetry Foundation 5 April 2022 Ards Angela 2002 Haki Madhubuti the measure of a man IndexArticles Black Issue Book Review Retrieved March 5 2022 Thomas Mike August 2 2021 Haki R Madhubuti Chicago Retrieved March 5 2022 Reardon Patrick T August 29 2018 Haki Madhubuti has lived his life as an act of defiance Chicago Reader Retrieved March 5 2022 a b c d Turner Melissa December 1 2009 Haki R Madhubuti Don L Lee 1942 blackpast org Retrieved December 17 2015 Library System Howard University howard edu Retrieved December 17 2015 Alexander Amy September 18 2006 Tavis Smiley s Covenant The Nation Black America Web Retrieved December 17 2015 Norton Anthology of African American Literature vol 2 Third ed New York W W Norton 2014 pp 858 860 ISBN 9780393923704 Haki R Madhubuti Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Foundation National Advisory Council americanwritersmuseum org Retrieved December 17 2015 Haki Madhubuti poets org Retrieved December 17 2015 Gordon Ed November 2 2005 Yellow Black Autobiography of a Poet NPR Madhubuti Haki R Encyclopedia com Retrieved March 5 2022 Further reading editBosman Julie September 29 2017 Haki Madhubuti the Book Publisher on the South Side The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Reardon Patrick T August 26 2018 Chicago History Haki Madhubuti the most influential African American leader you ve probably never heard of External links edit Haki Madhubuti interview Evening of Poetry at Hopkins House October 6 2006 Archived from the original on August 13 2007 Haki Madhubuti Stars in Motherland film Photographs and posters featuring Haki Madhubuti from the EBR African American Cultural Life digital collection Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Discogs Appearances on C SPAN Haki Madhubuti Pt 1 Taught By Women An Interview with Haki R Madhubuti Taught by Women amp other Writers Moraine Valley Community College Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Haki R Madhubuti amp oldid 1181500895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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