Hear rare recordings from five of the most-respected African American poets reading their own works: Langston Hughes, The Negro Speaks of Rivers; Arna Bontemps, Nocturne At Bethesda; Countee Cullen, Heritage; Gwendolyn Brooks, The Vacant Lot; and Sonia Sanchez, Black Magic.

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Arna Bontemps (October 13, 1902 - June 4, 1973) was a writer and poet during the Harlem Renaissance who depicted the lives and struggles of Blacks in America.

Countee Cullen (Mar. 30, 1903–Jan. 9, 1946) was a leader of black poets and writers of the Harlem Renaissance that took place during the 1920s and 1930s in New York City.

Gwendolyn Brooks (June 7, 1917 – Dec. 3, 2000) held the distinction of being the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize, as well as poetry consultant to the Library of Congress.

Sonia Sanchez, born on Sept. 9, 1934, is an African American poet most often associated with the Black Arts Movement.  She has authored dozens books of poetry, plays and children's books.