MargaretWalkerbecamethefirstAfricanAmericantowinanationalliteraryawardwhenhercollectionForMyPeoplewaschosenfortheYaleSeriesofYoungerPoetsin1942.OverthenextfiftyyearssheenrichedAmericanliteratureinendlesswaysthroughherwritingsand,in1993,shereceivedtheNationalBookAwardforLifetimeAchievement.ThisIsMyCenturyisWalker’sowndefiningsummationofhercareer.Selectedbytheauthorherself,theonehundredpoemsincludethirty-sevenpreviouslyuncollectedpiecesandtheentirecontentsofthreehard-to-findvolumes:theaward-winningForMyPeople(1942),ProphetsforaNewDay(1970),andOctoberJourney(1975).
