Stories
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Poetry Foundation and NEA recognize Furious Flower Poetry Center
Two prestigious organizations will help fund the 2014 Furious Flower Poetry Conference, hosted by the nation's only academic center ... Read More >
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Furious Flower presents Rita Dove, other legendary poets
Once again, Dr. Joanne Gabbin gathers the leading lights of African American poetry at JMU this fall. ... Read More >
Welcome to Furious Flower
In “Second Sermon on the Warpland,” Pulitzer-Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks writes,
The time
cracks into furious flower. Lifts its face
all unashamed. And sways in wicked grace.
Taking its name from these lines in Brooks’ poem and dedicated to her literary legacy, the mission of the Furious Flower Poetry Center is to cultivate, honor, and promote the diverse voices of African American poets. Several of our programs have come to be considered landmark events, bringing together established and emerging poets, along with students and faculty from universities across the nation. After a visit to the 2004 Furious Flower conference, Nikky Finney proclaimed it “black poetry planet.”
We serve James Madison University, the Harrisonburg community, and scholars everywhere with education, research, and publishing.
