Poetry Path: June Jordan

June Jordan was born in 1936 in Harlem, New York City, to West Indian immigrant parents. Her forty-year career in poetry was marked by vigorous activism and artistry. She published twenty-seven volumes of writing across multiple genres, writing openly about her bisexuality when identifying as such was heavily stigmatized. Her accolades include the National Association of Black Journalists Award and fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts. Jordan passed away in 2002.

Photos by Daniel Terna

June Jordan, excerpt “Roman Poem Number Five/ For Millen, and for Julius/ and for Peter and for Eddie” from Haruko/Love Poems. Used with the permission of The June M. Jordan Literary Trust.

The Poetry Path is made possible through a partnership with Battery Park City Authority, partners in design and fabrication of the Poetry Path, with additional support from our Outreach Partner, Goldman Sachs. Special thanks to the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation for funding the Poetry Path planning process, and to the Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation for supporting Poetry Path educational initiatives for youth and children.