Additional information
by Luthando Mazibuko (Illustrator), Susan Engle (Author)
Robert Hayden was the first African-American Poet Laureate of the United States. Born in Detroit, he attended Detroit City College (now Wayne State University) and eventually earned a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Michigan. He became a Bahá ' í in 1943, and in 1966, he was awarded grand prize for poetry at the First World Festival of Negro Arts. In 1975, he was appointed Poet Laureate. Mr. Hayden believed that art and literature have the power to unite, illuminate, and inspire across ancestral and cultural lines. In a 1971 interview, he said, " As a Bahá ' í I am committed to belief in the fundamental oneness of all races, the essential oneness of mankind, to the vision of world unity. And these are increasingly powerful influences on my poetry today." It is hoped that this book will introduce the reader to this artistic luminary whose life and poetry will continue to inspire many for generations to come.
Author Biography
Luthando Mazibuko has had a passion for drawing since his early childhood in South Africa and holds a BFA in illustration from Northern Illinois University and an MAT in fine art from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. Susan Engle earned a BFA in Theater Arts from Denison University in 1972 and began to work as a stage manager for the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra the following year. After her twin daughters were born in 1973, Susan began writing songs and poems for children. In partnership with friends and family, she published more than seventy over the years, including several award-winning music CDs. Since her retirement in 2017, Susan has been writing and publishing tiny books. To see them and read her poetry, visit www.IambicNana.com. She currently resides in West Lafayette, Indiana.
