Nappy/Prideful Poetry

Lucille Clifton

• one of the most important and respected African American poets, writers, and educators

• nominated for three Pulitzer Prizes and two National Book Awards

• appointed  Chancellor of the American Academy of Poets

• known for her themes of the body, family, community, politics, womanhood, and the spirit

• much of her work deals with the African American experience, she does not limit herself to that perspective, addressing topics common to all women, to all people

She wrote some awesome poetry, but one in particular I want to focus on is  “Homage to my Hair”. Also one I found interesting, though not hair related,  is “Homage to my Hips”. These two are her most popular poems, published in this book:

“Homage to My Hips”
these hips are big hips.
they need space to
move around in.
they don’t fit into little
petty places. these hips
are free hips.
they don’t like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top

And an excerpt from “Homage to my Hair”:

i’m talking about my nappy hair!

she is a challenge to your hand

Black man,

she is as tasty on your tongue as good greens

Black man,

she can touch your mind

with her electric fingers

The poems are meant to be flirtatious and sexy, using “nappy hair” and “mighty hips” as something to entice and tempt…both were things that were once thought to be negative…things that should be down sized or altered to conform. I found these poems both fun and inspiring. Thank you, Chancellor Clifton, for weaving such wonderful words that go on to touch us generation after next. Even though these were written before I was born, they still put a smile on  my face.