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POETRY

MARI EVANS of Indianapolis, Indiana, "THE BLACK ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS" presents you with its award for a Distinguished Volume of Verse published in the United States by a Black Author, that volume being, I AM A BLACK WOMAN. Your work has been described as being "elegant of line," and "haunting in its effect." When you tell us: I am a black woman/ the music of my song/ some sweet arpeggio of tears/ is written in a minor key/ and I/ can be heard humming in the night.../ we understand and share with you your unending urge to break into daylight song. And although you tell us, I Can No Longer Sing, we hear the echo of your voice, still quavering with song, and finally we hear it again: Who/ can be born/ black/ and not exult!/ In recognition of your achievement, which was to draw the Black Woman in all her immense dimensions--and who dares to limit them with commonplace rhetoric -- "THE BLACK ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS" honors you with this, its award of $500.

The Book Committee
BLACK ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS 

September 19th, 1971
New York City