Poet Sonia Sanchez Celebrates Her 90^th Birthday at The Schomburg

Last night, I had the most esteemed pleasure of attending the celebration of the incomparable poet and my former English professor, Sonia Sanchez’s 90^th birthday at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. And first of all, self preservation was in full effect! The haiku queen kept her mask on the entire time, except when she spoke on stage. Instead of hugs, the author of ☛HOMEGIRLS & HANDGRENADES gave elbow bumps. Attendees were instructed not to film the illustrious well-attended event. Thankfully, a recording of the livestream is available just below as well as on The Schomburg’s YouTube channel.

Luminaries in the audience as well as speakers and performers included the likes of Susan L. Taylor, the former editor-in-chief of Essence, Third World Press founder and publisher of Sonia’s collections, ☛I’VE BEEN A WOMAN: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS, ☛HOME COMING and ☛A SOUND INVESTMENT, Haki R. Madhubuti, plus Marc Lamont Hill, Mahogany L. Browne and more. My favorite performer of the evening hands down was Newark’s mayor Ras J. Baraka. The son of writer, poet and activist Amiri Baraka’s dynamic performance starts at the 41:10 mark.

Watch The Schomburg Center’s Stream Below:

Beyond Grateful For Laini Madhubuti’s Invitation To Sonia Sanchez’s 90th Birthday Celebration 🙏🏾

From left to right: Paula T. Renfroe with her bestie, Reese Scott and her wife Laini Madhubuti at The Schomburg.

I had the honor of studying under Sonia Sanchez as an undergraduate at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The We a BaddDDD People author’s classes were standing room only. In fact, she’d let unregistered students literally sit on the floor during her captivating lectures.

My Autographed Copy Of I’ve Been A Woman By Sonia Sanchez

Sonia Sanchez holds a special place in my heart. True story, I was pregnant with my daughter my senior year at Temple. Though Sonia was unable to attend my baby shower, she sent a generous check that I wish I’d photographed. Once my daughter was born and I shared with her that I was having challenges breastfeeding, the petite poet replied, “Sista. I breastfeed twins in The Struggle. You can do this.” She instructed my roommate to get me some raspberry tea and for me to relax. Sonia was and still is right.

To Sister Paula—Stay Beautifully Back. In Love/Struggle, Sonia Sanchez 1987