Frank X Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank X Walker
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Frank X Walker
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| Born | June 11, 1961 Danville, Kentucky |
| Occupation | Poet, educator |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1990s–present |
| Genre | Poetry, essays, visual art |
| Subject | Appalachia, history, African-American culture, environment, education |
Frank X Walker (born June 11, 1961) is an amazing African American poet from Danville, Kentucky. He's famous for creating the word "Affrilachia". This special word helps us remember the important history and culture of African Americans living in the Appalachia region. Frank X Walker is a professor at the University of Kentucky. He was also the official Poet Laureate of Kentucky from 2013 to 2015, which means he was the state's top poet!
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About Frank X Walker
Frank Walker Jr. was born in Danville, Kentucky, in 1961. He was the second of eleven children in his family. Growing up, his family lived in public housing projects in Danville. Frank loved to read when he was a kid. He describes himself as both a "nerd" (someone who loves learning) and an athlete during his teenage years.
School Days and College Life
At Danville High School, Frank played American football. He was also part of several clubs and was elected class president twice! After high school, he went to the University of Kentucky. He first planned to study engineering but later changed his main subject to English. A famous writer named Gurney Norman was one of his teachers there.
During his college years, Frank started using the middle initial "X". His friends gave him this name. He later earned another degree in writing from Spalding University in 2003.
Starting the Affrilachian Poets
In 1991, Frank X Walker helped start a group called the Affrilachian Poets. This group highlights the voices and stories of African American artists and writers from the Appalachian region. In 2007, he also started a magazine called PLUCK! – The New Journal of Affrilachian Art & Culture.
In 2010, he returned to the University of Kentucky to become a professor in the English Department. A few years later, in 2013, he made history. He was chosen as the Poet Laureate of Kentucky, becoming the first African American to hold this important position.
His Creative Work
Frank X Walker has written many books of poetry. One of his books, Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York, won the 2004 Lillian Smith Book Award. Some of his poems have even been turned into plays by the University of Kentucky Theatre Department! Frank also helped with a documentary film called Coal Black Voices.
He is also the founder of the Bluegrass Black Arts Consortium. This group helps support Black artists in the Bluegrass region. He teaches writing at different programs, helping new writers learn and grow.
Awards and Honors
Frank X Walker has received many awards for his amazing work:
- 2004 Lillian Smith Book Award
- 2005 Lannan Literary Fellowship in Poetry (This award came with a $75,000 grant!)
- 2006 Thomas D. Clark Literary Award for Excellence
- 2006 Kentucky Arts Council Al Smith Fellowship
- 2013–14 Poet Laureate of Kentucky
- 2014 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
His Books of Poetry
Here are some of the poetry books Frank X Walker has published:
- Love House. University Press of Kentucky. 2023.
- Masked Man, Black. Accents Publishing. 2020.
- Last Will, Last Testament. Accents Publishing. 2019.
- Ink Stains & Watermarks. Duncan Hill Press. 2017.
- About Flight. Accents Publishing. 2015.
- Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of Medgar Evers. University of Georgia Press. 2013.
- Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride. Old Cove Press. 2010.
- Black Box. Old Cove Press. 2005.
- Affrilachia. Old Cove Press. 2000.
