The poetry “greats” we study are, unsurprisingly, predominantly men (save the innovative and enterprising work of writers like Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, and many unnamed women armed with pen and paper). While many may have critiqued or analyzed the work of male poets and classic pieces, the very basis of their art, the validity of their work, was never called into question. The moment the white man’s words are challenged by the monetary success of a woman of color in the 21st century, long-time academics of the art form decide that the “direction” poetry is going is no longer worth following.
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