375:"The Ballad of Birmingham" may help inspire militant action, but it certainly shows the destruction caused by the opposition to the Civil Rights Movement. In the poem, a mother sends her daughter not to the marches but to a church that she believes will be safe. However, the church is bombed (a historical event) and the mother "clawed through bits of glass and brick, / Then lifted out a shoe. / "O, here's the shoe my baby wore, / But, baby, where are you?" (29–32). Published six years after the actual bombing, this poem would remind readers of the pain and death caused by the turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement.
181:, founder of Boone House, a black cultural center in Detroit where they both read their work. In the words of R. Baxter Miller, "Perhaps the first of its kind, the volume contains ten poems each by Danner and Randall. The poems are alternated to form a kind of double commentary on the subjects they address in common. Replete with allusions to social and intellectual history, the verses stress nurture and growth. In "The Ballad of Birmingham" Randall establishes racial progress as a kind of blossoming, as he recounts the incident." Randall's next publication was
372:, but that the movement requires the image they project to the world to be different than the one they had been showing. The final stanza shows the pride typical of BAM poetry: "Replace / the leer / of the minstrel's burnt-cork face / with a proud, serene / and classic bronze of Benin" (8–12). Thus, African Americans must replace their current image of a weak servant with one of a calm and self-respecting African. As shown in the first stanza, this image may not be entirely genuine, but it will further the desegregation cause of the Civil Rights Movement.
104:, the son of Arthur George Clyde (a Congregational Minister) and Ada Viola (Bradley) Randall (a teacher). Randall was the third of five children, including James, Arthur, Esther, and Phillip. His family moved to Detroit in 1920, and he married his first wife Ruby Hands in 1935, and soon after had a daughter, Phyllis Ada. This marriage dissolved, and Randall married Mildred Pinckney in 1942, but this marriage did not last either. In 1957, he married Vivian Spencer.
389:, one of the main characters is renamed "Randall" in explicit tribute to Dudley Randall (who is referred to as the favorite poet of Kyle/Randall's biological father). While the specific tenor of Randall's work is not discussed onscreen, his characteristic themes of black identity are relevant to the character's identity as a black child with white adoptive parents. A copy of Randall's
360:, the Nation of Islam, and the US organization (the "us" used in opposition to "them"). BAM poets were known for an innovative use of language, particularly focusing on orality and the use of Black English, music, and performance for a full-bodied, authentic“black experience” that rejected white literary standards.
317:
In 1966, Randall and
Margaret Danner, fellow poet and founder of Boone House, published their work Poem Counterpoem through Broadside Press. In May of the same year, Randall attended a conference where he received permission to publish work from Robert Hayden, Melvin B. Tolson, and Margaret Walker in
367:
Randall's interpretation of BAM values are evident in his work. In "A Different Image" the speaker declares that the current political landscape demands that
African Americans "create / a different image; / re-animate the mask" (3–6). Because African Americans will still be wearing a mask, the final
363:
Although
Randall was a proponent of the freedom BAM offered black poets, particularly up-and-coming artists, he was not afraid to question what he saw as inherent paradoxes within the movement. For Randall, both the overtly militant aesthetic and the desire to purify poetry of white characteristics
345:(BAM). The aesthetic counterpart of the political drive inherent in the Black Power movement, BAM rejected assimilation in favor of artistic and political freedom. Part of the movements doctrine was a belief in the necessity of militant armed self-defense and the beauty and goodness of Blackness.
288:
On
January 12, 2014, the centennial of Dudley Randall's birth was celebrated at the University of Detroit Mercy Library. Detroit Poet Laureate Naomi Long Madgett spoke about her friendship and collaborations with Randall. Poet and professor Dr. Gloria House read selections of Dudley Randall's
92:, in which four girls were killed. Randall's poetry is characterized by simplicity, realism, and what one critic has called the "liberation aesthetic." Other well-known poems of his include "A Poet is not a Jukebox", "Booker T. and W.E.B.", and "The Profile on the Pillow".
313:
suggested the idea of an anthology. Randall and
Burroughs communicated their intentions to edit a book of poetry on Malcolm X at the conference, and their fellow poets and publishers responded enthusiastically, some even refusing to be paid for their work.
161:. In 1956, he returned to Detroit to work at the Wayne County Federated Library System as head of the reference interlibrary loan department. From 1969 to 1976 Randall was a reference librarian at the University of Detroit (now the
301:
Memorial Center, although he continued to serve as a consultant. The press began because
Randall wanted to establish copyright on two poems that Jerry Moore was setting to music, "Ballad of Birmingham" and "Dressed All in Pink."
321:
Broadside Press published poetry almost exclusively, with more than 400 poets represented and more than 100 books and recordings released. The press has the distinction of being one of the most important literary avenues of the
165:), and served also as the University's Poet-in-Residence. In his honor, the Dudley Randall Poet-in-Residence Award was established in 1971 and is still an annual event at the University as the Dudley Randall Poetry Contest.
113:. The sonnet won the first prize of one dollar on the "Young Poets Page." Early inspiration stemmed from Randall's father taking him and his brothers to hear prominent African-American writers and artists speak, including
393:(actually written together with co-author Margaret Danner) becomes a plot point and is glimpsed in this and other episodes. A line attributed to the collection, but actually from Randall's poem "
309:, Randall saw Margaret Walker practicing her recitation of a poem about Malcolm X she was going to perform. When Randall commented on the number of poems being published about Malcolm,
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were restrictive to the expression of black artistry. Randall viewed himself as the “guardian of a poetic space out of which black poets may create without restriction."
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in
Detroit, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1949. Randall then completed his master's degree in Library Science at the
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Randall developed an interest in poetry at a young age. In 1927, at the age of 13, his first published poem, a sonnet, appeared in the
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223:), was heightened by a visit to the Soviet Union in 1966. His identification with Africa, enhanced by his association with poet
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133:, from 1932 to 1937. He also worked as a clerk at a post office in Detroit from 1938 to 1943 and served in the military during
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poetry. Poet Albert M. Ward and former Dudley
Randall Poetry contest winners Deonte Osayande and Lori Allan read their work.
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was named in his honor. The Dudley
Randall Poetry Prize is awarded to a University of Detroit Mercy student each year.
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a
Broadside series. Randall also received permission from Gwendolyn Brooks to publish her poem "We Real Cool".
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line of the stanza does not imply that African Americans will be able to show their genuine selves during the
356:) moved to Harlem. It was Baraka who coined the phrase "Black Arts". The movement had three major forces: the
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Although Broadside Press went into decline in 1976 due to overworked staff, it still exists to this day.
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Waters, Mark V. "Dudley Randall and the Liberation Aesthetic: Confronting the Politics of 'Blackness'".
185:(1968), a group of thirteen poems, in response to a riot in Detroit. Another fourteen poems appeared in
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326:, as well as presenting older black poets (such as Gwendolyn Brooks) and emerging voices (including
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The movement's origin is usually traced to March 1965 when, two months after the assassination of
817:
Poole, Phyllistine G. (January 1983). "People Profile: Dudley Randall Poet Laureate of Detroit".
397:, is quoted by two characters in the seventh episode ("The Best Washing Machine in the World").
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Randall was the publisher of Broadside Press from 1965 until 1977 when he sold the press to the
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Randall, Dudley. "Broadside Press: A Personal Chronicle." In Floyd B. Barbour (ed.),
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was designated a National Literary Landmark by the Friends of Libraries USA (now the
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1962 and 1966: the Wayne State Tompkins Award for poetry and for poetry and fiction
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Golden Song: The Fiftieth Anniversary Anthology of the Poetry Society of Michigan
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841:, Porter Sargent Publisher, 1970, pp. 139–148. Rpt. in Jeffrey W. Hunter (ed.),
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in 1965, which published many leading African-American writers, among them
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Broadside Press took off in 1965 when, during the Writer's Conference at
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1981: Creative Artist Award in Literature, Michigan Council for the Arts
870:. Dept. of English, University of Illinois. n.d. Web. October 28, 2015.
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As editor of the Broadside Press, Randall was an important part of the
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1975: Plaque as Distinguished Alumnus from the University of Michigan
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Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations
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Black Poetry: A Supplement to Anthologies Which Exclude Black Poets
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Randall received many awards throughout his career, including:
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768:, eds Trudier Harris and Thadious M. Davis, 1985, pp. 265–273.
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In the third episode ("Kyle") of the NBC television drama
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Melhem, D. H. (1983). "Dudley Randall: A Humanist View".
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A. X. Nicholas, "A Conversation with Dudley Randall", in
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in 1970, is evident in such poems as "African Suite" (
866:. "Historical Overview of The Black Arts Movement".
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University of Michigan School of Information alumni
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1977: International Black Writers' Conference Award
137:. He was working at a post office while attending
273:. In May 2001, the University of Detroit Mercy's
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914:African American and African Pamphlet collection
469:For Malcolm: Poems on the Life and the Death of
100:Dudley Randall was born on January 14, 1914, in
496:, with Louis J. Cantoni (Detroit: Harlo, 1985).
528:and Thadious M. Davis, 1985, pp. 265–273.
269:. Randall died on August 5, 2000, aged 86, in
513:, ed. Dudley Randall, 1984, pp. 266–274.
352:, LeRoi Jones (who later changed his name to
621:. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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456:A Litany of Friends: New and Selected Poems
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30:(January 14, 1914 – August 5, 2000) was an
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553:University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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647:44.1 (September 2000): 111–132. Rpt. in
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882:"'This is Us' & 'Poem Counterpoem'"
760:R. Baxter Miller, "Dudley Randall", in
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516:R. Baxter Miller, "Dudley Randall," in
434:More to Remember: Poems of Four Decades
283:Dudley Randall Center for Print Culture
219:("My Native Land" and "Wait for Me" in
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450:Broadside Memories: Poets I Have Known
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337:Connection to the Black Arts Movement
145:in 1951. He worked as a librarian at
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880:Myrick, Leslie (January 15, 2018).
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446:(Chicago: Third World Press, 1973),
358:Revolutionary Action Movement (RAM)
330:and Sonia Sanchez) to new readers.
173:In 1966, Broadside Press published
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953:"The Profile on the Pillow", from
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779:"Dudley Randall's Life and Career"
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484:(Detroit: Broadside Press, 1969).
478:(Detroit: Broadside Press, 1967).
452:(Detroit: Broadside Press, 1975).
424:(Detroit: Broadside Press, 1968).
418:(Detroit: Broadside Press, 1966).
937:"A Poet Is Not a Jukebox", from
918:University of Maryland Libraries
651:, Vol. 86. Detroit: Gale, 2008.
518:Dictionary of Literary Biography
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843:Contemporary Literary Criticism
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683:Black American Literature Forum
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227:from 1962 to 1964 and study in
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522:Afro-American Poets since 1955
245:1973: Kuumba Liberation Award
80:," written in response to the
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945:"Booker T. and W.E.B.", from
928:"Ballad of Birmingham", from
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458:(Detroit: Lotus Press, 1981).
43:pioneering publishing company
1021:American publishers (people)
589:"Dudley Randall - 1914-2000"
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430:(London: Paul Breman, 1970).
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1031:Poets from Washington, D.C.
1026:Black Arts Movement writers
996:African-American librarians
991:20th-century American poets
619:"On "Ballad of Birmingham""
395:Splendid Against the Night"
258:In 1981, Randall was named
177:, authored by Randall with
163:University of Detroit Mercy
10:
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909:FBI file on Dudley Randall
847:Literature Resource Center
796:"Dudley Randall Biography"
653:Literature Resource Center
262:of the City of Detroit by
86:16th Street Baptist Church
37:and poetry publisher from
16:American poet (1914– 2000)
490:(New York: Bantam, 1971).
203:writes: "His interest in
849:. Web. October 28, 2015.
845:, Vol. 135. Gale, 2001.
655:. Web. October 28, 2015.
275:McNichols Campus Library
211:("I Loved You Once", in
151:Jefferson City, Missouri
78:The Ballad of Birmingham
665:Modern American Poetry.
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1001:African-American poets
868:Modern American Poetry
783:Modern American Poetry
143:University of Michigan
139:Wayne State University
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476:Margaret G. Burroughs
370:Civil Rights Movement
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1046:Writers from Detroit
777:Naomi Long Madgett,
271:Southfield, Michigan
225:Margaret Esse Danner
189:(1970), followed by
155:Morgan State College
123:James Weldon Johnson
119:Walter Francis White
1016:American librarians
939:A Litany of Friends
839:The Black Seventies
742:on January 24, 2022
343:Black Arts Movement
324:Black Arts Movement
221:A Litany of Friends
159:Baltimore, Maryland
90:Birmingham, Alabama
886:Leslie's Bookshelf
406:Poetry collections
379:In popular culture
311:Margaret Burroughs
299:Alexander Crummell
217:Konstantin Simonov
209:Aleksander Pushkin
201:Naomi Long Madgett
147:Lincoln University
131:Dearborn, Michigan
127:Ford Motor Company
110:Detroit Free Press
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864:ya Salaam, Kalamu
593:Poetry Foundation
444:After the Killing
438:Third World Press
391:Poem, Counterpoem
233:After the Killing
213:After the Killing
195:After the Killing
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175:Poem Counterpoem
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102:Washington, D.C.
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976:2000 deaths
971:1914 births
827:(2): 4, 28.
764:, vol. 41,
645:CLA Journal
520:, vol. 41,
510:Hoyt Fuller
488:Black Poets
193:(1971) and
59:Audre Lorde
965:Categories
820:ColorLines
625:2007-09-21
533:References
508:Homage to
436:(Chicago:
386:This is Us
891:March 15,
736:Poets.org
471:Malcolm X
463:As editor
350:Malcolm X
955:Love You
440:, 1971).
428:Love You
197:(1973).
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229:Ghana
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