Robert Hayden

About

First African-American Poet Laureate of the United States whose works include Those Winter Sundays and The Whipping. He is also famous for a sequence of poems on the subject of the Vietnam War.

Before Fame

He attended Wayne State University and the University of Michigan. He later taught at Fisk University.

Trivia

His famous poetic work, Heart-Shape in the Dust, exemplifies his literary use of African-American vernacular speech.

Family Life

He was raised by a foster family in Detroit, Michigan, and he grew up attending a Baptist church. After marrying Erma Inez Morris, he converted to the Baha'i Faith.

Associated With

He was mentored by poet W.H. Auden.