James Emanuel

Who they were

James Emanuel was a poet and scholar from Alliance, Nebraska. Emanuel, who is ranked by some critics as one of the best and most neglected poets of the 20th century, published more than 300 poems, 13 individual books, an influential anthology of African-American literature, an autobiography, and more. He is also credited with creating a new literary genre, jazz-and-blues haiku, often read with musical accompaniment.

Early life

Educated at: Howard University, Columbia University, and Northwestern University.

Early life Born in Nebraska in 1921, Emanuel was raised in the state. He came from a family with seven children where he was the fifth. Literature had been part of his life since a really young age. He was induced into stories, poetic rhythms and prose by various authors. Due to this and all the readings he did reinforced and induced Emanuels ambition to become a writer.

Path and career

Worked with / for: University of Warsaw, University of Toulouse (1896-1968), Grenoble Alpes University, and City College of New York.

Awards / honours: Fulbright Scholarship.

Writings Poetry Emanuel was a poet, scholar, and critic. As a poet, he published more than 300 poems and 13 individual books. Emanuel has been called one of the best, and most overlooked, poets of his time. [ 1 ] Critics have put forward several reasons for Emanuel's poetry being neglected by the larger literary world, including the fact that he wrote more traditional poetic forms, that he left the United States, and the fact that he refused to take part in the politically correct world of Black academia.

Why this date

James Emanuel appears on our September 28 calendar for 2013 as a death entry.