Thomas Dent (writer)

Thomas Covington Dent (March 20, 1932 – June 6, 1998) was an African-American poet and writer.

Early life and education

Thomas Dent was born on March 20, 1932, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Albert W. Dent, president of Dillard University, and Ernestine Jessie Covington Dent, a concert pianist.[1][2] He was the oldest of three sons. Thomas graduated from Oakwood School in 1948.[3] He continued his education at Morehouse College receiving a bachelor's degree in political science in 1952. Thomas furthered his education at Syracuse University eventually receiving his doctorate in international studies in 1956.

Dent was a member of the U.S. Army for two years, 1957–59.

His published works included the book of poetry, Magnolia Street (1976) and Southern Journey: A Return to the Civil Rights Movement (1997). A collection of his work, New Orleans Griot: The Tom Dent Reader, edited by Kalamu Ya Salaam, was published in 2018. He was included into the American Poetry Since 1970 (Thunder's Mouth Press, 1990, ed. by Andrei Codrescu).

He was a passionate groomer of other Black writers and worked hard to sustain the Free Southern Theater writing workshop and Congo Square Writers' Union in his hometown of New Orleans and the Umbra Workshop on the Lower East Side in New York City.

Notes
  1. Flucker, Turry (2012-09-18). African Americans of New Orleans. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4396-2241-4.
  2. "Tom Dent, NAACP Worker Campaigned for Civil Rights". The New York Times. June 13, 1998. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  3. Oakwood School, Class of 1948 Graduation Program


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