Askia M. Touré facts for kids

Askia Muhammad Touré (born Rolland Snellings on October 13, 1938, in Raleigh, North Carolina) is an important African-American writer. He is known as a poet, essayist, and editor. He was a key figure in the Black Arts Movement. This movement helped Black people celebrate their heritage and build a strong identity.

Early Life and Education

Askia Muhammad Touré was born Rolland Snellings. He was born on October 13, 1938, in Raleigh, North Carolina. For his first six years, he lived with his grandmother in La Grange, Georgia. Later, he moved to Dayton, Ohio, to live with his parents. His visits to Georgia and North Carolina inspired his early poetry.

He went to public school in Dayton. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1956. During high school, he enjoyed singing "Doo Wop" music. He thought about a career in music. However, he joined the United States Air Force instead. He served in the Air Force from 1956 to 1959.

Moving to New York City

After his military service, Touré moved to New York City. He studied visual arts at the Art Students League of New York from 1960 to 1962. This led him to work as an illustrator for Umbra Magazine. There, he met many famous poets, authors, and activists. Their ideas helped his poetry grow and become stronger. His writing style was influenced by writers like W.E.B Dubois, William Butler Yeats, Pablo Neruda, and Langston Hughes. He also used the rhythms of jazz music in his poems.

A Voice for Black Identity

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

Activism and Teaching

After the assassination 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 1961 and 1962, he took part in the Fulton Art Fair in Brooklyn. He was also active in the Black Arts Movement.

In 1961, he protested at the United Nations. This protest was against the assassination of Patrice Lumumba. Other famous people like Amiri Baraka and Maya Angelou joined him.

In 1967, Touré began teaching at San Francisco State University. He helped start the country's first Africana studies program there. While in San Francisco, he became interested in the Nation of Islam. He converted to Islam in 1970.

Family and Later Life

Askia Muhammad Touré has been married three times. He married Dona Humphrey in 1966 and they had one son, Tariq Abdullah bin Touré. He later married Helen Morton Hobbs (also known as Halima) in 1970, and they had a son named Jamil Abdus-Salam bin Touré. He is currently married to Agila.

He lives and teaches in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a writer-in-residence at the Ogunaaike Gallery in Boston. He is currently 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 Recognition

Askia Muhammad Touré has received several awards for his writing:

• 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 work Dawnsong