Lucille Clifton

Date of Birth: June 27, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: February 13, 2010

Biography

Lucille Clifton was an acclaimed American poet, writer, and educator, known for her poignant and powerful poetry that often centered on themes of family, heritage, and resilience. Born Thelma Lucille Sayles in Depew, New York, Clifton’s work has been celebrated for its accessibility, emotional depth, and focus on African American experiences. Clifton’s poetry often addressed social issues, including racism and gender inequality, and she was known for her clear, concise style. Over her prolific career, she published numerous poetry collections, including “Good Times” (1969), “Two-Headed Woman” (1980), and “Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems 1988–2000” (2000). Clifton received numerous accolades, including the National Book Award for Poetry and the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. She was also a Distinguished Professor of Humanities at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Clifton passed away on February 13, 2010, leaving behind a legacy of literary excellence and social advocacy.

5 Interesting Facts about Lucille Clifton

1. Lucille Clifton was a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

2. She served as the Poet Laureate of Maryland from 1979 to 1985.

3. Clifton’s book “Blessing the Boats” won the National Book Award for Poetry in 2000.

4. She was the first author to have two books of poetry nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in the same year.

5. Clifton’s poems often reflected her own life experiences, including the struggles and triumphs of being a Black woman in America.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lucille Clifton

1. “What they call you is one thing. What you answer to is something else.”

2. “We cannot create what we can’t imagine.”

3. “Every pair of eyes facing you has probably experienced something you could not endure.”

4. “The surest sign of wisdom is constant cheerfulness.”

5. “My Mama moved among the days like a dreamwalker in a field; seemed like what she touched was hers, seemed like what touched her couldn’t hold, couldn’t hold.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Lucille Clifton’s highest net worth was modest compared to contemporary literary figures, estimated to be around $1 million at the height of her career.