Pulitzer-Nominated Poet Vivian Ayers Allen Dies at 102

Vivian Ayers Allen, a renowned poet, cultural activist, and mother to Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, has died at the age of 102. Celebrated for her influential 1957 poem 'Hawk,' which metaphorically connected freedom with space exploration, Allen earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her 1952 poetry collection 'Spice of Dawns.' Her work was recently honored by NASA at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, where her writings are exhibited, recognizing her contributions to the spirit of space exploration. Born in South Carolina, Allen was a graduate of the Brainerd Institute and held honorary doctorates from Bennett College and Wilberforce University; she also studied classical Greek and Mayan culture at prestigious universities. Debbie Allen paid tribute to her mother on Instagram, describing her transformation into a 'cosmic bird Hawk' and promising to follow her trail of freedom and beauty. The family and social media have expressed condolences, honoring a matriarch who profoundly influenced art, literature, and cultural activism.