Doris Davenport (poet) facts for kids

Doris Davenport, born on January 29, 1949, is an American writer, teacher, and poet. She is known for her essays and poems. She also performs her poetry for audiences.

Davenport identifies as African American and Appalachian. These parts of her background strongly influence her writing. Today, she often leads workshops and poetry performances.

Early Life and Education

Doris Davenport was born in Gainesville, Georgia. She grew up in Cornelia, Georgia. She often talks about her childhood in the Appalachian foothills. Many of her poems have been published in the Appalachian Heritage magazine.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English from Paine College. She then received a Master of Arts (MA) degree in English from the University at Buffalo. Later, she earned her Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Literature from the University of Southern California.

Main Ideas in Her Writing

Focus on Culture

Davenport often writes about her heritage. In many of her works, she shares the joy and richness of being African American. Her themes often explore her communities. She also writes about how modern feminism affects her community. She shares her personal successes throughout her life.

Growing up in the Southern United States, Davenport includes her upbringing in her work. Many of her writings show her life in the Appalachian Foothills. She has strong connections to that area.

Understanding Racism

In an essay called "The Pathology of Racism: A Conversation with Third World Wimmin," she talks about racism. She describes racism as a "disease" that can harm people. Davenport hopes for a sense of well-being among all women around the world. She believes there are many other important issues to focus on. In her more recent essays, Davenport writes about the poetry of African American women.

Career as a Writer and Teacher

Today, Doris Davenport works as an Independent Poet-Scholar, Teacher, and Writer. She has a lot of experience teaching. Dr. Davenport was an associate professor of English at Albany State University. She also taught at Stillman College.

So far, she has published twelve books of poetry. She continues to give poetry performances. She currently lives in Northeast Georgia, on traditional Cherokee lands.

Her Published Works

Poetry Collections

• request. Imaginary Friend Press, 2014.
• ascent: poems. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011.
• a hunger for moonlight: poems. self-published, 2006.
• Madness Like Morning Glories: Poems. LSU Press, 2005.
• Soque Street Poems. Sautee-nacoochee Community Association, 1995.
• Voodoo Chile - Slight Return: Poems. Soque Street Press, 1991.
• Eat Thunder & Drink Rain: Poems. self-published, 1982.
• like this/files/ITL.pdf It's Like This. self-published, 1981.

Journal Articles, Essays, and Poems

• "... Can't Go No Further/Cause You Got Me/Chained and Bound." Appalachian Heritage 36, no. 3 (2008): 56.
• "Weeny (Wiener) Soup." Appalachian Heritage 36, no. 3 (2008): 52.
• "Red Dirt Blues." Appalachian Heritage 36, no. 3 (2008): 54–54.
• "hog killing time." Appalachian Heritage 33, no. 3 (2005): 79–79.
• "Miz Jones." Appalachian Heritage 33, no. 3 (2005): 80–81.
• "Lesson in Excitement." Appalachian Heritage 33, no. 3 (2005): 82–82.
• "Katharine Newman in the after World (s) or MELUS Goes to Hell." MELUS 29, no. 3/4 (2004): 548–553.
• "A Candle for Queen Ida." Black Music Research Journal 23, no. 1/2 (2003): 91-102.
• "Still Here: Ten Years Later..." Tilting the Tower (1999): 215–26.
• "Dismantling white/male supremacy." Social Issues in the English Classroom (1992): 59–75.
• "Pedagogy &/of Ethnic Literature: The Agony & the Ecstasy." MELUS 16, no. 2 (1989): 51–62.
• "Dessa Rose." Black American Literature Forum 20, no. 3 (1986): 335–340.
• "Waves & License." Black American Literature Forum 17, no. 4 (1983): 177–179.
• "Black Lesbians in Academia: Visible Invisibility." Lesbian Studies, Present and Future (1982): 9-11.
• "Dinner With the Orishas-Almost." Callaloo 16 (1982): 125–126.
• "The Pathology of Racism: A Conversation with Third World Wimmin." This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color (1981): 85–90.