On View
1968 & Beyond Gallery
Exhibition
A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond
Written by
Brooks, Gwendolyn, American, 1917 - 2000
Illustrated by
Donaldson, Jeff, American, 1932 - 2004
Published by
Broadside Press, founded 1965
Owned by
Furious Flower Poetry Center, American, founded 1999
Subject of
AfriCOBRA, founded 1968
Date
1970
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W x D: 8 7/16 × 5 1/2 × 3/16 in. (21.5 × 14 × 0.4 cm)
Description
This is a paperback volume of poetry with black cover and the word "RIOT" in red san-serif typeface within a white irregular circle. The name "GWENDOLYN BROOKS" in white serif typeface are centered in the middle of the cover. The words "BROADSIDE PRESS $1.00" are visible in the lower left corner. On the back cover is a large black and white photograph of the author that fills two-thirds of the surface. The photograph depicts a woman with short hair, wearing a button down collared shirt. There is a dark window behind her. The remaining third of the cover shows text that read "RIOT/ is a poem in three parts, only one part of / which has appeared in print before. It arises from/ the disturbances in Chicago after the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968. / RIOT, BY GWENDOLYN BROOKS, $1.00/ BROADSIDE PRESS/ 12651 Old Mill Place Detroit Michigan 48238." On the frontispiece is a reproduction of a painting by Jeff Donaldson. It depicts two young men, both wearing white shirts and khaki pants. The taller man holds a small African statue in his right hand and presses his left hand up against a clear sheet of glass the stands between the him and the viewer. The younger man stands behind him and also presses his hand against the glass surface. The glass is indicated by a few semi-transparent vertical lines and several iterations of the word "glass" in various sizes across the surface of the painting. Beneath the image are the words ""Allah Shango," by Jeff Donaldson / This painting was the Purchase Award Winner at the exhibit "Black/ Expressions '69" at the Southside Community Art Center, Chicago."
Place printed
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America
Place made
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
Movement
BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)
Type
paperbacks
Topic
Black Press
Civil rights
Communities
Literature
Poetry
Race discrimination
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.255
Restrictions & Rights
© Gwendolyn Brooks
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5ffdb31e4-eb0c-4e5f-98d4-ba8f6b38060b

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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