June Jordan (b. 1936) Memo: LINKS The Academy of American Poets - Poetry Exhibits: June Jordan http://www.poets.org/lit/poet/jjordan.htm This site contains a brief biography of Jordan, the texts of several of her poems, and a list of links. BIOGRAPHY June Jordan (b. 1936) Jordan was born in Harlem, New York, and attended Barnard College (1953–1955) and the University of Chicago (1955–1956). A poet, novelist, and writer of children's books, she has taught widely at university campuses, including the City College of the City University of New York (1966–1968) and Connecticut College (1969–1974), where she both taught English and served as director of Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK). She is currently Professor of English at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. In addition to many appointments as visiting professor, she has served as Chancellor's Distinguished Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley (1986). Her numerous honors include the Prix de Rome in Environmental Design (1970–1971), the Nancy Bloch Award (1971) for her reader The Voice of the Children, and the achievement award from the National Association of Black Journalists (1984). Her many books include His Own Where (1971), Dry Victories (1972), and Kimako's Story (1981), all for juvenile and young adult readers. Her collections of poetry include Things That I Do in the Dark (1977), Living Room: New Poems, 1980–1984 (1985), Naming Our Destiny: New and Selected Poems (1989), Poetic Justice (1991), and Haruko: Love Poems (1994). Jordan is also the author of On Call: New Political Essays, 1981–1985 (1985) and Technical Difficulties: African-American Notes on the State of the Union (1992).