His Own Where

June Jordan (1936-2002) was a poet, essayist, journalist, dramatist, activist, and educator known for challenging oppression through her inspirational words and actions. She was the founder of Poetry for the People at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught for many years. The author of over twenty books, her poetry is collected in Directed by Desire; and her selected essays in Some of Us Did Not Die.

Sapphire burst on to the literary scene in 1994 with American Dreams. She is also the author of Black Wings & Blind Angels and Push, which was made into the 2009 award-winning motion picture Precious.