Civil Rights & Black Arts Movement (1960s–70s, USA)

Now the voice becomes fire. This is the Civil Rights era, and alongside it, the Black Arts Movement. Poetry is now protest, weapon, ritual. Amiri Baraka, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Gil Scott-Heron — these artists are not just writing, they’re mobilizing.”

“This is full-circle with the griots — poets are speaking for the people, to the people, and against systems that silence them. It’s communal, call-and-response, unapologetically political.”

“This era centers the Black experience again — refusing white validation, building Black theatres, Black presses, Black audiences. It’s important to note: while the counterculture was happening in white spaces, this was revolution happening in Black spaces — raw, rhythmic, and real.”

“This is also when spoken word reclaims performance as activism — deeply rooted in community storytelling, and embodied in the rhythms of the street, church, and rally.

Key Figures

• Amiri Baraka – Founding figure of the Black Arts Movement; militant, theatrical poetry.
• Sonia Sanchez – Blended music, activism, and spiritualism in poetic form.
• The Last Poets – A collective; proto-rap political spoken word over drums.
• Gil Scott-Heron – Often called the “Godfather of Rap”; poetry as music and news.

Activities

• Chant Creation: Write a 4–5 word chant and perform it.
• Rally Tone: Practice changing delivery—calm ➝ firm ➝ urgent.
• Power Verb List: Group builds a list of action verbs (“rise, fight, build…”) and speak them in a rising volume wave.