#broadside press

Gwendolyn Brooks, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Haki R. Madhubuti, Dudley Randall, A Capsule Course in Black Poetry Writing, Broadside Press, Detroit, MI, 1975

“The Girl Who Died #1” by Alice Walker

Join the Special Collections Research Center next Tuesday, February 9, at 4 pm EST, for the second of our Winter 2021 After Hours events: "Broadside and Lotus: Black-Owned Presses in Detroit." 

This event will feature a selection of published work and archival material from the Broadside Press Records and the Naomi Long Madgett and the Lotus Press Papers, both held in the Special Collections Research Center. Dudley Randall established Broadside Press in 1965 with the goal of cultivating the work of African American writers. The Press’ first publication was a broadside of Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool” in 1966 and over the following decades, Broadside published more than 200 poets and writers in broadsides, collections, anthologies, records, and videotapes. Naomi Long Madgett founded Lotus Press in 1972. It was initially intended as a way of publishing her fourth book of poetry, Pink Ladies in the Afternoon, but it soon developed into a long-term project to find, support, and publish a wide range poets and authors, including Toi Derricotte, May Miller, and Dudley Randall.

“Black Steel” by Gwendolyn Brooks

On March 8, 1971, heavyweight champions Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali faced off at Madison Square Garden in what was billed as the “Fight of the Century.” It was the first time that two undefeated boxers fought each other for the heavyweight title. In this first of three fights between the two boxers, Frazier won in 15 rounds via unanimous decision. Muhammad Ali, who changed his name from Cassius Clay in 1964, was known for speaking out against white supremacy and the injustices faced by Black Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. Today he is regarded as one of the greatest sporting figures of the 20th century.

Poet Gwendolyn Brooks was the first Black person to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for her book Annie Allen. For the Frazier-Ali fight, Brooks was commissioned to write a poem which appeared in the official program. In the poem, titled “Black Steel,” Brooks employs her signature style of alliteration while capturing the excitement of the fight. In the last stanza, she challenges the men to ultimately remember the values of black love and brotherhood, despite their rivalry.

Best thing about working in an archives is finding hidden gems! Searching through the extensive WHA materials, we learned about one of their earlier programs, The Poetry Connection, a series that aired poets reading her/his own work. One particular episode that aired in 1976, featured readings from the Broadside Press festival celebrating the 10th anniversary of the press and its founder and editor, Dudley Randall.

The pioneering Broadside Press, founded by Randall, published many African-American writers including Gwendolyn Brooks, featured in one of our earlier Tumblr posts.

The WHA Poetry Connection episode features four readings from the fifty-some readings from that day and showcases Broadside poets Sonia Sanchez, Dudley Randall himself, Haki Madhubuti (formerly Don L. Lee), and Frenchy Hodges.

Audre Lorde, b. February 18, 1934 / 2026