Donors Luncheon

Location: Harre Union, Ballroom A 
Time: Noon

Haki R. Madhubuti, a prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement and founder of Chicago’s Third World Press, is a celebrated poet, author, publisher, and educator with a prolific career spanning over five decades. Author of over 37 books, including the bestseller “Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?” and featured in 100 anthologies, Madhubuti has received accolades such as the American Book Award and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Prize.

Inspired by Richard Wright’s “Black Boy,” Madhubuti’s journey began with honorable service in the U.S. Army. Mentored by luminaries like Malcolm X and Gwendolyn Brooks, he emerged as a leading voice in promoting Black literature and consciousness.

In 1967, Madhubuti founded Third World Press, the oldest continuously operating Black-owned book publisher in the U.S., later expanding its mission to become the Third World Press Foundation in 2015. His educational contributions include the Institute of Positive Education and co-founding the Betty Shabazz International Charter Schools.

Madhubuti’s distinguished career garnered recognition as one of Ebony magazine’s “150 Most Influential Blacks in America.” Awards such as the Literary Legacy Award, President’s Pacesetters Award, and The Fuller Award for Lifetime Achievement underscore his impact on literature and education.

As an accomplished educator, Madhubuti earned his master of fine arts from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He co-founded the first MFA in creative writing program at a predominantly Black university and established the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent.

In 2022, Madhubuti received his fifth honorary doctorate of literature from Knox College and was named University Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Chicago State University. The Poetry Foundation honored him with the Pegasus Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. Madhubuti’s enduring influence persists, with Third World Press having celebrated its 56th Anniversary in October of 2023.