A Poem For Dudley Randall: Poet and Publisher of the Black Arts Movement
Author: Don Tate
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Published: September 15, 2026
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Dudley Randall’s first published poem appeared in the Detroit Free Press when he was only 13 years old. He continued to write, and as he grew older, he realized that his voice could be powerful.
When calls for equal rights were growing louder during the civil rights movement, Randall wrote the “Ballad of Birmingham” in response to an incident of senseless violence against a Black community in Alabama—and suddenly, the world was paying attention to his words.
But Randall knew that most publishing companies were ignoring Black writers. In 1965, he founded the groundbreaking Broadside Press to give a platform to Black creatives like Audre Lorde, Gwendolyn Brooks, Nikki Giovanni, and Sonia Sanchez, as well as his own work. Randall and his fellow writers used their literary voices to express pride in Black history and culture.
This book will be published on September 15, 2026!
REVIEWS
“An inspiring, informative, and entirely satisfying tribute.”
**STARRED REVIEW**
Booklist
“In a soaring tribute to a multitalented and scandalously under-celebrated Black librarian turned publisher, Tate not only perceptively traces experiences and encounters that drove Randall’s growth as a poet but also adds notes about Black cultural icons of the Harlem Renaissance and relevant historical events”
**STARRED REVIEW**
“A touchstone biography that captures the historical Black arts experience by lifting up those whose work made Black poetry accessible to all.”
**STARRED REVIEW**
Fall 2026 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard title
RESOURCES
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