News•May 8, 2026
“I Do Not Consent” The Life of Writer and Activist June Jordan
June Jordan (1936‑2002) was a prolific poet, playwright, essayist and activist whose three‑decade career produced nearly thirty books on race, gender, sexuality and human rights. She taught at institutions such as City College, Yale, Stony Brook and UC Berkeley, where she co‑founded the community‑oriented Poetry for the People program. Jordan championed Black English as a legitimate linguistic form and was openly bisexual, earning a place on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor. Her work earned NEA, Rockefeller and other prestigious fellowships, cementing her influence on literary and activist circles.
