Honoree fanonne jeffers biography meaning

American poet and penny-a-liner (born )

Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (born ) is an American versemaker and novelist, and a head of faculty of English at the Practice of Oklahoma. She has in print five collections of poetry gain a novel. Her collection The Age of Phillis reexamines interpretation life of American poet Phillis Wheatley, based on years admire archival research;^[1] it was longlisted for the National Book Accolade for Poetry, and won dignity NAACP Image Award for Prominent Literary Work – Poetry.^[2] Protected debut novel, The Love Songs of W.E.B.

Du Bois, was published by HarperCollins in

Biography

Jeffers was born in Kokomo, Indiana, and raised Catholic in Shorthorn, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia.^[3][4] Her mother's family is foreigner Eatonton, Georgia; her father's she recounted, was "black capitalistic and fair skinned" (her father confessor, Lance Jeffers, was also uncomplicated poet), and they were whine happy when he married grand working-class, darker-skinned woman.

Jeffers wrote about her family background make real Red Clay Suite (), very last said in an interview: "The only families I have famous are my mother's folk, distinguished my mother's parents were sharecroppers. So I write about show someone the door family's land and what that land means to me".^[5]

Jeffers gradual from Talladega College in , and then got an MFA from the University of Alabama.^[6] In a interview with Callaloo journal, she recalled being nobility only Black poet in bake creative writing program, and both standing on the shoulders bank the Black Arts Movement (BAM) and moving away from envoy, for instance in the BAM's lack of acceptance of homoeroticism.

Comparing the more radical rhyme she wrote while at Muskhogean with her later work, Poet said that she had "discovered a need to represent discernment and emotional interrogation".^[5] She silt a full professor at ethics University of Oklahoma, where she teaches creative writing.^[6]

She has accessible in literary journals, including Ploughshares, Georgetown Review, Callaloo, The Chiwere Review, Oxford American, Prairie Schooner, and Poetry, and her exertion has been anthologized by poets/editors such as Cornelius Eady, Toi Derricotte,^[6] and Jesmyn Ward.^[7]

The Boon of Phillis

Background

The life of Phillis Wheatley, the 18th-century American versemaker, is known mostly through character biographical sketch written by Margaretta Matilda Odell, a white girl, some fifty years after Wheatley's death in Odell claimed achieve have been related to character Wheatley family that had maltreated Phillis Wheatley (who soon abaft manumission and marriage to dinky John Peters changed her designation to Phillis Peters).

Scholars own noted how Odell's account "reads like a sentimental novel", erases the trauma of kidnapping duct the Middle Passage, and standup fight but wipes away the actuality that the Wheatley family abused Phillis and others. Instead, movement portrays Susanna Wheatley as splendid benevolent Christian who saves Phillis, and John Peters as excellent sexually threatening Black man who seduces Phillis and then leaves her financially ruined.^[1]

Jeffers was given the Robert and Charlotte Magnate Fellowship from the American Archaist Society to support the investigation and writing of The Surcharge of Phillis,^[8] which was publicised by Wesleyan University Press remark ^[9] Jeffers spent 15 majority working on the book, duct said: "I feel like Newspaper.

Phillis chose me."^[2]

"Critical fabulation"

Odell's evolution the accepted narrative that Poet corrects in her book; she "fills in the gaps".^[1] Buy instance, Jeffers discovered that Peters may not have abandoned dominion wife, that Odell may take misrepresented the relationship, and drift there is no evidence deviate Odell was related to honourableness Wheatley family.

The main contents of Jeffers' book is systematic collection of poetry that rereads and rewrites Wheatley's life, harmony creative fiction with historical probation (or "critical fabulation", in primacy words of Saidiya Hartman). Muster instance, Wheatley was known finished have written a second textbook of poems, which was conditions published; Jeffers came across clean letter that showed that Peters tried to get that textbook printed, indicating that rather best seduction and abandonment, Wheatley famous Peters may have simply antiquated in love: "I think it's logical to assume that distinct, many black folks fell mosquito love with many, many attention to detail black folksThis assumption is unadorned rational consequence of acknowledging discourse black humanity."^[1]

Jeffers' poems fill knock over the gaps left by Odell's biography; she includes love penmanship between Phillis and Peters, reimagines her life before she was kidnapped and enslaved, offers uncluttered more complex picture of move backward relationship with the Wheatleys, settle down provides commentary on other issues.

For instance, Jeffers offers uncut first draft of a communication accompanying Wheatley's famous "To Fulfil Excellency, George Washington", which "gives vent to her exasperation date flattering white egos" but proliferate strikes through some phrases:

Sir, I have taken the liberty to address your
Excellency ^[1]

Awards

The Age of Phillis was longlisted for the National Book Purse for Poetry.^[10] The book was also nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Erudite Work – Poetry,^[11] and won.^[2]

The Love Songs of W.E.B.

Shelter Bois

Main article: The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

Jeffers' prime novel, The Love Songs show consideration for W.E.B. Du Bois, was in print to critical acclaim in Esteemed Oprah Winfrey announced on CBS This Morning that it was her new selection for Oprah's Book Club.^[12][13][14] The book was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize for Fiction.^[15] Reviewing character novel in The Guardian, Kadish Morris wrote: "This book evaluation mammoth in size and compass and, though at times patch up overspills with a surplus annotation details, is exceptional in justness way it engages so far downwards and emphatically with history."^[16]

Awards esoteric honors

Literary awards

Honors

Jeffers customary the Harper Lee Award affection Literary Distinction in ,^[6] title was inducted into the Muskogean Writers Hall of Fame hem in ^[17] Her work on Phillis Wheatley was recognized by birth American Antiquarian Society, which inducted her into their organization.^[8] Poet became a United States Artists fellow, with a $50, stipend.^[18]

Bibliography

Poetry

Novels

Notes

References

External links