Askia M. Touré facts for kids

Askia Muhammad Touré (born Rolland Snellings on October 13, 1938) is an important African-American poet and writer. He was a big part of the Black Arts Movement. This movement helped create a strong and proud identity for Black people. It aimed to celebrate African heritage and challenge unfair ideas from that time.

A Poet's Journey

Rolland Snellings was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1938. He spent his early years with his grandmother in Georgia. These trips to Georgia and North Carolina later inspired his poetry.

He finished high school in Dayton, Ohio, in 1956. For a while, he thought about a music career. But he joined the United States Air Force instead, serving from 1956 to 1959.

After the military, he moved to New York City. He studied visual arts at the Art Students League from 1960 to 1962. This led him to work as an illustrator for Umbra Magazine. There, he met many famous poets, writers, and activists. Their ideas, along with the styles of poets like Langston Hughes and the rhythm of jazz music, helped his own poetry grow.

Writing and Activism

From 1963 to 1965, Askia Muhammad Touré worked on the editorial board of Black America. This magazine was linked to the Revolutionary Action Movement. He also worked for Liberator Magazine and was an editor for Black Dialogue. Later, he became the editor-in-chief for the Journal of Black Poetry. In these roles, he worked to redefine Black identity. He also helped fight against unfair treatment of Black people.

After the death of Malcolm X, Touré teamed up with scholar Larry Neal. They started a newspaper called Afro World. They also helped create Harlem's Black Arts School in Harlem, New York. He also took part in art fairs and the larger Black Arts Movement.

In 1961, he joined a protest at the United Nations. This protest was about the assassination of Patrice Lumumba. Other famous people like Maya Angelou were also there.

Later, Touré spoke out about some teachings he felt were not helpful. He believed it was important to focus on positive images of African American culture.

In 1967, he started teaching at San Francisco State University. He helped create the country's first Africana studies program. While in San Francisco, he became very interested in the Nation of Islam. This led him to convert to Islam in 1970.

Family Life

Askia Muhammad Touré has been married several times. He has two sons: Tariq Abdullah bin Touré and Jamil Abdus-Salam bin Touré.

He currently lives and teaches in Boston, Massachusetts. He used to be a writer-in-residence at the Ogunaaike Gallery in Boston. Today, he is working on a film about the Black Arts Movement.

He was also a former editor for Journal of Black Poetry, Black Dialogue, and Black Star.

Awards and Recognitions

Askia Muhammad Touré has received many awards for his work:

• 1952: Modern Poetry Association Award
• 1969: Columbia University Creative Writing Grant
• 1989: American Book Award
• 1996: Gwendolyn Brooks Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2000: Stephen E. Henderson Poetry Award for his book Dawnsong

Works

Anthologies