Black arts movement poetry

American poet (born )

Kalamu ya Salaam (born March 24, ) is an American poet, author, filmmaker, and teacher from the 9th Ward of New Orleans. A well-known activist and social critic, Salaam has spoken out on a number of racial and human rights issues. For years he did radio shows on WWOZ. Salaam is the co-founder of the NOMMO Literary Society, a weekly workshop for Black writers.

Background

Born Vallery Ferdinand III in New Orleans, Louisiana, he graduated from high school in , joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea.^[1] He attended Carleton College (–69) and Delgado Junior College, where he earned an Associate Arts degree in business administration.^[2] He was the editor of The Black Collegian magazine for 13 years (–83),^[1] and has written for many publications including Negro Digest/Black World, First World, The Black Scholar, Black Books Bulletin, Callaloo, Catalyst, The Journal of Black Poetry, Nimrod,