Mari Evans

Early life and education Evans was born in Toledo, Ohio, on July 16, 1919, to Mary Jane Jacobs and William Reed Evans. Evans's mother died when Mari was seven years old.

Evans attended local public schools before enrolling at the University of Toledo in 1939. She majored in fashion design, but left in 1941 without earning a college degree.

Evans gained notoriety as a poet during the 1960s and 1970s and became associated with the Black Arts Movement, an effort to explore African-American culture and history through the arts and literature. In addition to Evans, other prominent members of the movement were Amiri Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks, Nikki Giovanni, Etheridge Knight, Haki R. Madhubuti, Larry Neal, and Sonia Sanchez, among others. Evans was also an activist interested in social justice issues and a critic of racism. Photograph of Indianapolis poet Mari Evans at an African American History Committee event "An Afternoon with Mari Evans," held at the St. Peter Claver Center on February 17, 1985. Evans began a series of teaching appointments in American universities in 1969. Later, she explained that the program was her attempt to represent African-Americans to themselves. She continued her teaching career at Purdue University (1978–80), Washington University in St. Louis (1980), Cornell University (1981–85), the State University of New York at Albany (1985–86), and Spelman College.

Evans's writing focused primarily of the issues of race and identity. Her poems frequently featured African-American women. She also became "known for her intensity and no-nonsense candor". Evans's other memorable poems include: "Celebration", "If There be Sorrow", "Speak the Truth to the People", "When in Rome", and "The Rebel", among others.

In her later work, Evans began to use experimental techniques and incorporate African-American idioms in ways that encouraged readers to identify with and respect the speaker. She is also well known for the line: "I have never been contained except I made the prison."

Although she is primarily known for her poetry, Evans also wrote short fiction, children's books, dramas, nonfiction articles, and essays.

Personal life Evans, who was divorced and the mother of two sons, led a quiet life in Indianapolis. In addition, Evans was a member of Indianapolis's Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, but attended Broadway United Methodist Church in her later years. Funeral services were held at Saint Luke's Methodist Church in Indianapolis due to the large crowd that expected to attend. I am a Black Woman (1970) Nightstar 1973–1978 (1981) A Dark and Splendid Mass, Harlem River Press (1992) Continuum, Black Classic Press (2007)

Children's books J.D. (1973) Look at Me! (1974) Jim Flying High (1979) Dear Corinne, Tell Somebody! Love, Annie: A Book About Secrets (1999) 'I'm Late': The Story of LaNeese and Moonlight and Alisha Who Didn't Have Anyone of Her Own, Just Us Books, (2006)

Dramas River of My Song (1977)) Portrait of a Man (1979))

Nonfiction Black Women Writers (1950–1980): A Critical Evaluation, New York: Doubleday (1984) Black Women Writers: Arguments and Interviews, London: Pluto Press (1984)) Clarity as Concept: A Poet's Perspective: A Collection of Essays, Chicago: Third World Press (2006)

Awards and honors John Hay Whitney fellowship, 1965–66