Prof. Sonia Sanchez (b. 1943) is a poet, playwright, essayist and winner of the 1985 American Book Award. For over 50 years Sanchez has worked as an artist-activist-educator in the Black arts movement, the women’s movement and various human rights struggles — always moving with a deep sense of compassion, commitment and creativity. In 2001 she was awarded the Robert Frost Medal by the Poetry Society of America. Sanchez retired from Temple University where she held the Laura Carnell Chair in English.