Safiya Henderson-Holmes

Sharon "Safiya" Henderson-Holmes (December 30, 1950 – April 8, 2001) was an American poet from New York. She published two collections of poetry, had her work included in multiple anthologies, and received the William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America. She was an assistant professor at Syracuse University at the time of her death.

Early life and education Sharon "Safiya" E. Henderson (later Henderson-Holmes) was born December 30, 1950, in the Bronx, New York City.

She completed a BA from New York University, followed by a Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in creative writing from City College. She developed a series of poetic narratives about her diagnosis and subsequent treatment, calling this poetic cycle "C-ing Colors".

Reception Despite attracting few critical analyses, Henderson-Holmes was popular in the New York poetry community, and her work has been published in multiple anthologies and editions. One critic from the Amsterdam News described Henderson-Holmes as "positive, fiery, revolutionary", commenting that her "eloquent, yet stinging, poignant poetic words pierce souls". Writer and poet June Jordan wrote that Henderson-Holmes gave readers "spine and joy and the grace of laughter – with a surety of craft that cannot fail".

Personal life Henderson-Holmes married film producer Preston Holmes, and the couple had one daughter named Naimah.