Russell Atkins, born May 1, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio, became a pioneering voice in Black experimental poetry. A composer, dramatist, and founder of Free Lance, one of the earliest African American literary magazines, Atkins’ work blurred the lines between visual art, music, and poetry. Though not widely known during his early years, Atkins influenced generations of writers with his innovative “concrete” poems and politically charged themes. His work defied mainstream conventions and challenged the boundaries of form, race, and identity in American letters.
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