Whitman's Influence

Whitman’s Influence

The poet Walt Whitman celebrates his 200th birthday in 2019. Whitman is known across the world as an innovator in free verse poetry and as a powerful voice in support of outsiders from a variety of backgrounds. As a queer, working-class poet, Whitman has inspired readers and writers alike not only to celebrate their unique experiences, but also to listen more closely to the experiences of others. This case profiles a dozen writers who have followed in Whitman’s footsteps while also working to fill in the gaps of Whitman’s limited experiences as a white man from the United States.