Lorenzo Thomas (poet) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lorenzo Thomas
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| Born | August 31, 1944 |
| Died | July 4, 2005 (aged 60) |
| Nationality | Panamanian |
| Occupation | Poet Critic |
| Years active | 1973–2005 |
| Known for | Umbra Workshop |
Lorenzo Thomas (born August 31, 1944 – died July 4, 2005) was an important American poet and critic. He was born in the country of Panama. His family moved to New York City in 1948, where he grew up. Later, in 1973, Thomas moved to Houston, Texas. He worked as a professor at the University of Houston–Downtown for over twenty years.
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Early Life and Education
Lorenzo Thomas was born in Panama. His parents were from the Caribbean region. His father was a pharmacist from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. His mother, Luzmilda, was a community activist from Jamaica, born in Costa Rica.
As a child in New York City, Lorenzo went to several schools. These included Duke Ellington Elementary School and Andrew Jackson High School.
College and the Umbra Workshop
Thomas earned a degree in English Literature from Queens College in New York. He also studied History and Communication Arts. During his time in New York, he joined a group called the Umbra Workshop. He was one of the youngest members.
The Umbra Workshop brought young writers together in the Lower East Side of New York City. They wanted to find their own artistic voices. This workshop helped many new Black poets, like Ishmael Reed and David Henderson. The Umbra Workshop was a key part of the Black Arts Movement. This movement was a major artistic movement for African Americans after the Harlem Renaissance.
Military Service
From 1968 to 1972, Lorenzo Thomas served in the U.S. Navy. He reached the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer. He served in Vietnam and attended Navy schools to learn about electronics, radio, and the Vietnamese language. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1972.
Career as a Writer and Professor
In 1973, Thomas moved to Houston, Texas. He became a writer-in-residence at Texas Southern University. There, he helped edit a journal called Roots.
Later, in 1984, he began teaching English at the University of Houston–Downtown. He taught there for more than two decades. From 1973 to 1979, he also worked as a writer-in-residence at other universities. These included Florida A&M University and places in the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Thomas also made important contributions to the study of African-American literature. In 2000, he published a book called Extraordinary Measures: Afrocentric Modernism and 20th-Century American Poetry. This book looked at the work of poets like James Fenton and Amiri Baraka.
Later Life and Passing
Lorenzo Thomas passed away in July 2005. He died at the Texas Medical Center Hospice from a lung condition called emphysema.
Awards and Recognition
- 1963 - Dwight L. Durling Prize in Poetry, John Golden Award for Creative Writing
- 1966 - Poets Foundation Award
- 1973 - Committee on Poetry grant
- 1974 - Poets Foundation Award
- 1974 - Lucille Medwick Award
- 2000 - Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists award
