Black Writer Complains of Being Ignored

No, it’s not me. It’s this guy. Langston Hughes knows rivers, and Alvin Aubert knows that the Norton Anthology of African American Literature screwed him over:

Your new compendium was touted as the big one and this is definitely not about sour grapes—its [sic] too far gone for that anyhow seeing as how the damned thing's already out; all the same, why in hell didn't any of you see fit to include anything of mine in your landmark new canon-making omnibus; could it be you just don't know how damned good I can be or that I even exist?

I have never read a word cuz has written before today, but if his poetry is anything like this letter, he officially has a new No.1 fan.

I don’t know what I love more: that he is openly indignant about his failure to appear in the Norton Anthology, or that he can’t believe that they’ve never heard of him or didn’t consider him important enough.

I understand. When you work your whole life on a body of work, you want that work appreciated, saved for future generations. Not getting into the Norton is like not making it onto Noah’s ark.

Of course, the typos that infest this thing are an argument against his inclusion in itself. A winning argument. That said, dude has a real voice. I mean, every time I read this I can’t help but I read it out loud, while doing an impression of Redd Foxx.

Alvin Aubert, you are a Lord of the Niggerati!