Three Poets of Color Send a 'Shout-Out' to Gauguin

While the paintings featuring dark-skinned Tahitian beauties have become signature works of Paul Gauguin, defining and showcasing in great part his talent and his genius, it is less clear what these paintings have done for the black female body. In an essay that focuses on three poets of color whose works are informed by reference to Gauguin, I intend to explore how these more contemporary literary artists-Wikkramsinha, Walcott, and Angelou-respond to Gauguin's colored women.