The **Umbra Poets** were a collective of Black writers, artists, and activists formed in the early 1960s in New York City’s Lower East Side. This group is considered one of the first major post-Harlem Renaissance African American literary collectives. They played a significant role in the Black Arts Movement, emphasizing themes of Black identity, culture, and social justice. **Key Facts about the Umbra Poets:** • **Formation:** The group was founded around 1962 and initially began as a magazine, _Umbra_, which focused on showcasing the work of emerging Black writers. • **Purpose:** The Umbra collective sought to create a space for Black poets and writers to express their voices and explore experimental, political, and avant-garde approaches to poetry and literature. • **Key Members:** Prominent members included: • **Ishmael Reed** (renowned novelist and poet) • **Amiri Baraka** (formerly LeRoi Jones, a central figure in the Black Arts Movement) • **N.H. Pritchard** (known for experimental and visual poetry) • **Tom Dent* • **Askia Touré** • **David Henderson**