Sonia Sanchez
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Brief Biography
Sonia Sanchez is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hunter College before engaging in a year of postgraduate study in poetry at New York University. Her teaching career began in the mid-1960s, and she became known for advancing Black studies within academia. She also began publishing her poetry in literary journals in the mid-1960s, with her first collection of poetry being published in 1969. Over the years, she began writing children’s books, plays, and columns in addition to poetry. She has received numerous awards for her writing, including a Robert Frost Medal and the Langston Hughes Poetry Award. Sanchez has retired from teaching but continues to write while living in Philadelphia.
Publications
Home Coming; Poems. Detroit; Broadside Press, 1969.
Liberation Poem. Detroit; Broadside Press, 1970.
Ima Talken Bout the Nation of Islam. New York; Truth Del, 1971.
It's a New Day; Poems for Young Brothas and Sistuhs. Detroit; Broadside Press, 1971.
Love Poems. New York; Third Press, 1973.
The Adventures of Fathead, Smallhead, and Squarehead. New York; Third Press, 1973.
We a BaDDDD People. Detroit; Broadside, 1973.
The Afternoon of Smallhead, Fathead, and Squarehead. New York; Third Press, 1974.
A Blues Book for Blue Black Magical Women. Detroit; Broadside Press, 1974.
I've Been a Woman; New and Selected Poems. California; Black Scholar Press, 1978.
A Sound Investment; Short Stories for Young Readers. Chicago; Third World Press, 1980.
Homegirls and Handgrenades. New York; Thunder Mouth Press, 1984.
Generations, 1969-1985. London; Karnah House, 1986.
Under a Soprano Sky. New Jersey; Africa World Press, 1987.
Shake Down Memory. New Jersey; Africa World Press, 1991.
Wounded in the House of a Friend. Boston; Beacon Press, 1995.
Does Your House Have Lions? Boston; Beacon Press, 1997.
Shake Loose My Skin. Boston; Beacon Press, 1999.
Conversations with Sonia Sanchez. Jackson, Miss.; University Press of Mississippi, 2007.
Homegirls and Handgrenades. New York; White Pine Press, 2007.
I’m Black When I’m Singing, I’m Blue When I Ain’t and Other Plays. Durham, N.C.; Duke University Press, 2010.
Morning Haiku. Boston; Beacon Press, 2010.
Collected Poems. Boston; Beacon Press, 2021.
Joint Publications:
Black and in Brooklyn, Creators and Creations. Brooklyn; Universal Black Writers Press, 1983.
Continuous Fire: A Collection of Poetry. Trenton, N.J.; Africa World Press, 1991.
Like the Singing Coming off the Drums: Love Poems. Boston, Mass.; Beacon Press, 1998.
Liberation Poem. Detroit; Broadside Press, 1970.
Ima Talken Bout the Nation of Islam. New York; Truth Del, 1971.
It's a New Day; Poems for Young Brothas and Sistuhs. Detroit; Broadside Press, 1971.
Love Poems. New York; Third Press, 1973.
The Adventures of Fathead, Smallhead, and Squarehead. New York; Third Press, 1973.
We a BaDDDD People. Detroit; Broadside, 1973.
The Afternoon of Smallhead, Fathead, and Squarehead. New York; Third Press, 1974.
A Blues Book for Blue Black Magical Women. Detroit; Broadside Press, 1974.
I've Been a Woman; New and Selected Poems. California; Black Scholar Press, 1978.
A Sound Investment; Short Stories for Young Readers. Chicago; Third World Press, 1980.
Homegirls and Handgrenades. New York; Thunder Mouth Press, 1984.
Generations, 1969-1985. London; Karnah House, 1986.
Under a Soprano Sky. New Jersey; Africa World Press, 1987.
Shake Down Memory. New Jersey; Africa World Press, 1991.
Wounded in the House of a Friend. Boston; Beacon Press, 1995.
Does Your House Have Lions? Boston; Beacon Press, 1997.
Shake Loose My Skin. Boston; Beacon Press, 1999.
Conversations with Sonia Sanchez. Jackson, Miss.; University Press of Mississippi, 2007.
Homegirls and Handgrenades. New York; White Pine Press, 2007.
I’m Black When I’m Singing, I’m Blue When I Ain’t and Other Plays. Durham, N.C.; Duke University Press, 2010.
Morning Haiku. Boston; Beacon Press, 2010.
Collected Poems. Boston; Beacon Press, 2021.
Joint Publications:
Black and in Brooklyn, Creators and Creations. Brooklyn; Universal Black Writers Press, 1983.
Continuous Fire: A Collection of Poetry. Trenton, N.J.; Africa World Press, 1991.
Like the Singing Coming off the Drums: Love Poems. Boston, Mass.; Beacon Press, 1998.
Themes
Sonia Sanchez writes poems, plays, children's books, novels, and columns. She draws inspiration from her experiences as a Black woman in late-20th century America. Her poems frequently use Black English.
Publisher
Alabama Authors of the 19th and 20th Centuries, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, http://AlabamaAuthors.org
Collection
Citation
Sanchez, Sonia, “Sonia Sanchez,” Alabama Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries, accessed September 19, 2024, https://alabamaauthors.org/items/show/649.