African American Poetry: A Digital AnthologyMain MenuFull Text Collection: Books Published by African American Poets, 1870-1929Long list of 100+ full texts books of poetry available on this "Anthology"Author Pages: Bios and Full Text CollectionsList of African American poets onAfrican American Periodical Poetry (1900-1928)A collection of African Amerian Periodical Poetry, mostly focused on 1900-1928Areas of Interest: Topics and ThemesAfrican American Poetry: Anthologies of the 1920sPoetry by African American Women (1890-1930): A Reader and GuideOpen access textbook introducing readers to Poetry by Black WomenExploring Datasets related to African American poetryAbout This Site: Mission Statement, Contributors, and Recent UpdatesAn account of the history and evolution of this site by the site editor.Further Reading / Works CitedAmardeep Singhc185e79df2fca428277052b90841c4aba30044e1
Lewis Alexander Photo
1media/Lewis Grandison Alexander_thumb.png2026-02-09T18:08:09+00:00Amardeep Singhc185e79df2fca428277052b90841c4aba30044e12131Photo of Poet Lewis Grandison Alexander. Source Ancestry/Findagrave.comPhoto of Poet Lewis Grandison Alexanderplain2026-02-09T18:08:09+00:00Amardeep Singhc185e79df2fca428277052b90841c4aba30044e1
This page is referenced by:
12024-03-13T11:28:38+00:00Lewis Alexander (1900-1945), Author Page11Lewis Alexander Author Bio and a Collection of His Poemsplain2026-02-09T18:56:53+00:00Lewis Grandison Alexander published poetry in a number of African American periodicals in the 1920s, including Fire!!, The Messenger,Opportunity, and The Crisis. He also had a poem included in the influential anthology, The New Negro (1925). Several of these poems are distinctive because of their engagement with the Haiku (or Hokku) form.
Alexander was born and raised in Washington, DC, and attended Howard University, where he was a member of the Howard Players theater group. Through the 1920s, Alexander was closely involved with theatrical groups in Washington, DC, including the Ira Aldridge Players and the Ehtiopian Art Theatre. Alexander is said to have been part of traveling acting ensembles, and appeared in performances of Salome and The Comedy of Errors on Broadway in 1922-1923.
At some point in the 1920s, Alexander is said to have studied at the University of Pennsylvania. At least two of his poems reflect engagement with life in Philadelphia, including, "Little Cinderella" (which mention "Broad Street") and "South Street" (which mentions the then-African American neighborhood around South Street).
Not much is known about Alexander's life in the 1930s and 40s; our research indicates he appears to have stopped publishing his work after around 1929.
From the author's bio in Caroling Dusk:
"LEWIS ALEXANDER was born July 4, 1900, at Washington, D. C. He was educated in the public schools of Washington and at Howard University where he was a member of the Howard Players. He has also studied at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Ethiopian Art Theatre for the season 1922-1923 playing in Salome and The Comedy of Errors on Broadway. As the result of a recent tour of North and South Carolina he edited in May 1927 the Negro Number of the Carolina Magasine. He has been writing poetry since 1917, specializing in Japanese forms. Two Little Theatre groups in Washington, The Ira Aldridge Players of the Grover Cleveland School and the Randall Community Center Players have been under his direction."
