Bibliography Grimes, Nikki. 2017. One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance. Ill. by Cozbi A. Cabrera, R. Gregory Christie, Pat Cummings, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ebony Glenn, Nikki Grimes, E. B. Lewis, Frank Morrison, Christopher Myers, Brian Pinkney, Sean Qualls, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, Shadra Strickland, and Elizabeth Zunon. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781619635548 Review & Critical Analysis In her latest poetry collection One Last Word, NCTE Award Winner Nikki Grimes takes a fresh look at the poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Using the “Golden Shovel” poetry form, Grimes creates new poems out of lines, stanzas, and even entire poems from this era by notable African American poets. The poems both old and new will resonate with readers and create a thought-provoking collection full of diversity and beautiful verse. This collection is laid out in three parts. Grimes begins and ends the book with an original poem introducing the inspiration for the collection and closing it in a fulfilling manner with the narrator’s voice coming full circle. Grimes first presents a classic poem from the Harlem Renaissance by numerous notable African American poets including Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Bennett, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Jean Toomer, and more. She then takes a line, stanza, and in some cases, the whole poem, and creates an original golden shovel poem from those words. Each of these poems builds on the themes of the book and gives the reader a unique perspective on diversity, racial equality, oppression, and numerous other ideas from a more modern perspective and voice. Each poem, whether new or old, is engaging and carefully chosen or produced for its quality and appeal for the audience. Grimes does an excellent job not only organizing the collection, but also providing background and structure to the collection. There is a table of contents, and a preface, Harlem Renaissance section, and author’s note where Grimes gives detailed background information about herself, her writing, the Harlem Renaissance, and its influence on her as a writer, poet, and person. Grimes also includes an introduction to the golden shovel poetry form with examples and explanation of why she enjoys writing poetry in this challenging and artistic way. Another wonderful feature of this book is the resources included at the end. Grimes includes poet and artist biographies, acknowledgements, a detailed list of sources, and an index. All of these elements work together to provide readers with a rich background for the poems, as well as further information to explore the authors, illustrators, and themes included in the book. The rich artwork provided by artists and illustrators like Javaka Steptoe (son of John Steptoe), Christopher Myers (son of Walter Dean Myers), Cozbi A. Cabrera, and even Nikki Grimes herself, provide a rich and colorful context to each poem. These talented, modern African American artists have added a layer of depth to each poem in their creation of a work of art to accompany it. The poems included in this collection work together to create an emotional impact the reader will carry for a long time to come. Each poem is carefully selected or crafted and conveys a message of courage, strength, and hope. Even readers who are not African American will identify with these themes and feel the strength of the message behind them. Even though the poems have similar themes and ideas, they differ in their rhythm, sound, and language. Poetry lovers will find pieces that evoke stunning visuals, as well as poems that draw out deep emotions. The mix of old and new poems is engaging and is appealing to readers, especially after reading Grimes’ introduction to the golden shovel form. Overall, One Last Word is an emotional, impactful, and creative collection that is sure to resonate with readers for years to come. Grimes has set herself apart as a powerful voice in poetry, as well as an outstanding African American poet. This is a collection that should be included in collections everywhere! Spotlight Poem This poem, found on page 32, is the golden shovel form created from Georgia Douglas Johnson’s poem Calling Dreams. This poem spoke to me for many reasons including how it addresses the hard work it takes to achieve our dreams. This is a theme students can relate to as they begin to explore their calling for the future and create the pathway that will them there.
I would introduce this poem to students by reading it aloud accompanied by the original poem by Johnson. I would then ask students why they think Grimes chose the line “The right to make my dreams come true,” from Johnson’s poem. How does that line fit in with the new golden shovel poem Grimes creates from it? This could lead into a writing assignment or discussion about a time the student has worked hard to achieve a goal or dream. I would also introduce the concept of a golden shovel poem and challenge students to create their own from a poem of their choice. This will be a challenge, but also a great opportunity for learning and creativity for my students.
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AuthoRMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own. Archives
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