US EditionVivian Ayers Allen, Renowned Poet, Cultural Activist, and Matriarch, Has Joined the Ancestors - Because of Them We Can
Dr. Vivian Ayers Allen influenced arts and education as a Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet and cultural activist, celebrating her 102nd birthday just weeks before her passing.
- Vivian Elizabeth Ayers Allen, an acclaimed poet and cultural figure born in 1923 in Chester, South Carolina, passed away at the age of 102, with her daughter Debbie Allen announcing her death in August 2025.
- Her literary journey started in Houston with the 1952 release of her poetry volume Spice of Dawns, which received a Pulitzer Prize nomination, followed by the notable poem Hawk in 1957, published shortly before the Sputnik I launch.
- Vivian Ayers Allen was recognized by NASA for her significant contributions associated with the Apollo 11 mission, with her work prominently featured in exhibits and the Johnson Space Center’s Building 12 renamed the Dorothy Vaughan Center to honor pioneering women involved in the Apollo program.
- Her daughter Debbie Allen posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, describing her as "Mommie" who has become a celestial hawk embodying the spirit of Freedom, while Clemson University Press announced the release of new editions of the poem *Hawk*.
- Her impact spans poetry, activism, and family legacy, inspiring ongoing tributes, and her work continues to influence art, literature, and recognition of Black women's contributions to culture and space history.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Vivian Ayers Allen, Renowned Poet, Cultural Activist, and Matriarch, Has Joined the Ancestors - Because of Them We Can
It is with deep sadness that Vivian Ayers Allen, the beloved mother of Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, has joined the ancestors. She was 102 years old. According to BET, Debbie Allen announced the news on Instagram with a touching tribute: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Debbie Allen (@therealdebbieallen) Born in Chester, South Carolina, in 1923, Ayers Allen was a Pulitzer Prize–nominated poet whose collection Spice of Dawns earn…
Black America Web
Vivian Ayers Allen, Pulitzer Prize-Nominated Poet & Mother Of Debbie Allen & Phylicia Rashad, Passes Away At 102
Source: Walter McBride / Getty Vivian Ayers Allen, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet, scholar, and artist who was also the mother of Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, has died at 102. On Thursday, Debbie Allen shared the news with a poetic tribute that reflected her mother’s own creative spirit. “Mommie you have transformed into that cosmic bird Hawk that lives and breathes Freedom. We will follow your trail of golden dust and continue to climb h…
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