Safiya Henderson-Holmes facts for kids

Safiya Henderson-Holmes was an amazing American poet and teacher from New York. She was born Sharon E. Henderson on December 30, 1950, and passed away on April 8, 2001. Safiya wrote two books of poetry and her work appeared in many other collections. She won the important William Carlos Williams Award for her writing. At the time of her death, she was a professor at Syracuse University.

Safiya's Early Life and School

Safiya Henderson-Holmes was born in the Bronx, New York City. This was on December 30, 1950.

She loved learning! Safiya earned her first degree from New York University. After that, she got a special Master's degree in creative writing from City College. She even continued her studies at Columbia University.

Safiya's Career and Teaching

Before becoming a full-time teacher, Safiya worked as a physical therapist. She also helped pregnant women with natural childbirth. Later, she started teaching at many different colleges. These included Marymount College and Sarah Lawrence College.

She became a special "poet-in-residence" at University Heights High School. This meant she was a poet who taught and inspired students there. From 1990 until she passed away in 2001, she was an assistant professor at Syracuse University.

Safiya was also involved in important groups. She worked with Poets and Writers and Art Against Apartheid. She also joined the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship.

Awards for Her Poetry

Safiya Henderson-Holmes received many awards for her writing. Between 1982 and 1992, she won two Goodman City College Awards. She also received a MacDowell Fellowship. In 1983, she got a Northstar Grant and a New York CAPS Poetry Fellowship.

In 1990, she won the famous William Carlos Williams Award. This was for her first book of poems, called Madness and a Bit of Hope. Her poems often explored the "political realities in the lives of women." In 1994, she published her second poetry book, Daily Bread.

In 1999, Safiya received another award from the New York Foundation of the Arts. Soon after, she was diagnosed with cancer. She started writing a series of poems about her experience. She called these poems "C-ing Colors." Safiya said that writing helped her feel stronger. She felt that to "outlive this disease, I needed more of me—not less."

Safiya Henderson-Holmes passed away on April 8, 2001, when she was 50 years old.

Safiya's Family Life

Safiya Henderson-Holmes was married to Preston Holmes. He was a film producer. They had one daughter together, named Naimah.