Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Last Poets, an African American music and spoken-word group, emerged in East Harlem, New York, in the late 1960s. Their rise to prominence was marked by their unique blend of poetry and music, deeply rooted in the African American civil rights movement and Black nationalism. Their work laid the foundation for the development of hip-hop music.
This 1968 episode of SOUL!, hosted by Ellis Haizlip with special guest host Loretta Long, features a live performance of "Black Woman" by The Last Poets, a conversation with Last Poets member Russell Pitchford about their mission to bring poetry back to the people, and a discussion with actress-director Barbara Ann Teer on the power of Black culture to strengthen the community.
Subscribe to a THIRTEEN newsletter to stay informed: thirteen.org/email-preferences/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=tp_bhm&utm_id=2026_tp_bhm
This April, for National Poetry Month, THIRTEEN celebrates voices in verses, stories of artistry and expression, and special selections from the THIRTEEN vault.
SOUL! was a variety-talk show featuring African-American artistry, community and culture. It was also a platform for political expression and the fight for social justice. It showcased live performances by funk, soul, jazz, and world musicians, and had in-depth interviews with figures from politics, sports, the literary world and more. WNET recorded the series with the then-new technology of videotape.
#NationalPoetryMonth #TheLastPoets #HipHop #BlackPoetry #SOUL #Harlem #BlackCulture #Archives #THIRTEEN #EllisHaizlip #RussellPitchford #BarbaraAnnTeer #LorettaLong
Please SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed: youtube.com/@ThirteenWNET?sub_confirmation=1
For full episodes, check out thirteen.org
Facebook: facebook.com/thirteenwnet
Instagram: instagram.com/thirteenwnet
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thirteenwnet
-----------------
THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.
The Last Poets, an African American music and spoken-word group, emerged in East Harlem, New York, in the late 1960s. Their rise to prominence was marked by their unique blend of poetry and music, deeply rooted in the African American civil rights movement and Black nationalism. Their work laid the foundation for the development of hip-hop music.
This 1968 episode of SOUL!, hosted by Ellis Haizlip with special guest host Loretta Long, features a live performance of "Black Woman" by The Last Poets, a conversation with Last Poets member Russell Pitchford about their mission to bring poetry back to the people, and a discussion with actress-director Barbara Ann Teer on the power of Black culture to strengthen the community.
Subscribe to a THIRTEEN newsletter to stay informed: thirteen.org/email-preferences/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=tp_bhm&utm_id=2026_tp_bhm
This April, for National Poetry Month, THIRTEEN celebrates voices in verses, stories of artistry and expression, and special selections from the THIRTEEN vault.
SOUL! was a variety-talk show featuring African-American artistry, community and culture. It was also a platform for political expression and the fight for social justice. It showcased live performances by funk, soul, jazz, and world musicians, and had in-depth interviews with figures from politics, sports, the literary world and more. WNET recorded the series with the then-new technology of videotape.
#NationalPoetryMonth #TheLastPoets #HipHop #BlackPoetry #SOUL #Harlem #BlackCulture #Archives #THIRTEEN #EllisHaizlip #RussellPitchford #BarbaraAnnTeer #LorettaLong
Please SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed: youtube.com/@ThirteenWNET?sub_confirmation=1
For full episodes, check out thirteen.org
Facebook: facebook.com/thirteenwnet
Instagram: instagram.com/thirteenwnet
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thirteenwnet
-----------------
THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.
