[Every day for the month of February, I will post a brief write-up of a Black author and links to some of their books. Please click the links in the text to find copies of their works.]

Sapphire is an American poet, performer, and novelist, best known for her critically acclaimed novel “Push,” which was later adapted into the film “Precious.”

Born in Fort Ord, California, Sapphire grew up in New York City and began her artistic career as a performance poet in the 1980s. Her work is known for its raw honesty, powerful language, and unflinching depiction of poverty, sexual abuse, and race in the inner city. Sapphire has published several collections of poetry, including “American Dreams” and “Black Wings & Blind Angels,” and her writing often addresses themes of oppression, survival, and the human spirit.

With her vivid, evocative language and unapologetic voice, Sapphire has become an influential figure in contemporary American literature, and her work continues to inspire new generations of writers and activists.