In her tribute, Brooks said she was alsoimpressed by the "low-key merry" way these men"treated themselves." She asked rhetorically, "Arethere any here who believe to succeed you mustbe...mean, dry sophisticates?"
Officers of the Black Men's Forum said theybegan planning the event last spring in order toaddress a division they saw within the HarvardBlack community.
"We saw a great deal of tension between Blackwomen and Black men on this campus," said DanielV. Alexandre '97, secretary-treasurer of the BlackMen's Forum. "In order to alleviate thatstrain...we decided we'd take the first step inbuilding bridges."
Language and Unity
Brooks discussed the semantics of race as amicrocosm of the issues she feels the Blackcommunity faces today.
Comparing the words "Black" and"African-American," she described "Black" as"unified," "empowering," an "umbrella" which didnot push out "friends in Africa."
"African-American" has a "honeyed musicality,"she said, which makes it a less effective word.Her character Kojo from her collection ChildrenComing Home says, "I am other thanhyphenation."
She read several other poems from ChildrenComing Homeas well. Her works depictedchildren on their way back from school, preparingto face the fighting adults, drugs, abuse andquestions of their own identity which troubletheir families.
At the end of her presentation, Brooks spentalmost an hour signing copies of her books andspeaking to students.
When Tammy L. Brown '98 presented Brooks with acopy of her own poetry collection I Ain'tChicken, Brooks appeared noticeably touchedand gave Brown a copy of her collectionBlacks.
"Being a young poet myself, therefore having asincere love for words, the reading today waspowerful, moving, and insightful," Brown saidbefore speaking to Brooks. "I felt privileged tosit at the feet of an elder poet."
Phenomenal Woman
Brook's presentation was only one part of theCelebration of Black Women, an event that began onFriday night with "Phenomenal Woman"--named afterthe poem by Maya Angelou--and ended on Saturdaynight with a semi-formal gala in Adams House.
"Phenomenal Woman," held in Lowell LectureHall, featured songs, dance and poetry honoringBlack women.
Observers--including Brooks herself--said thepredominantly female performers "could have beenprofessional."
Black Students Association President Kristen M.Clarke '97 said she applauded the Black Men'sForum for organizing the celebration and takingthe first step in addressing a division within theBlack community at Harvard.
"As a Black woman, it's nice to see a group ofmen who cares so much," Clarke said. "There is alack of substantive communication [between Blackmen and women], of enough Black women rolemodels.