Dudley Randall honored with literary landmark at local college

Few probably know that the Black Arts Movement have its origins in Detroit. Few probably know that it was a small Detroit publishing house that made household names out of obscure young poets in the 1960s and 70s.

Broadside Press, founded by poet and publisher Dudley Randall in 1965, introduced the radical verse of Haki Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni to the world.

Randall, who joined the Ancestors last fall, was recently honored at the University of Detroit-Mercy with a literary landmark in his name. He was hired at U of D-M in 1969 as a reference librarian and eventually became poet-in-residence.

In 1971, Randall launched the college's first poetry contest among the student body, a contest, also named after Randall, that celebrated its 30th anniversary this past school season.
The U of D-M also dedicated a newly equipped print center in Randall's honor.

The facility will provide the ability for students to learn how to produce, design, and bind publications, some of which will result from forthcoming Dudley Randall Poetry Contests.

In 1981, Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young pronounced Randall the poet laureate of Detroit.

Michigan Citizen
May 24, 2001
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