ABOUT TERRY
Biography
Terry A. O'Neal is a bestselling author, poet, and educator whose work has been featured in magazines, journals, and newspapers worldwide. Recognized as one of the most influential African American female writers of our time, O'Neal was named among the Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature in the book Literary Divas—a distinction given to women who have left a lasting impact on literature and culture.
O'Neal’s body of work spans across multiple genres, including three poetry collections—Motion Sickness, The Poet Speaks in Black, and Good Mornin’ Glory—as well as two children's books, Ev’ry Little Soul and My Jazz Shoes. Her award-winning Southern fiction novel Sweet Lavender garnered critical acclaim, and her 2014 release, The Sparrow’s Plight: Woes of a 21st Century Black Poet, includes an introduction by renowned writer Rudolph Lewis.
Drawing inspiration from the powerful voices of the Harlem Renaissance, O'Neal’s work is deeply influenced by poets like Langston Hughes, Carolyn M. Rodgers, and Gwendolyn Brooks. Their unapologetic expressions of Black identity, social consciousness, and the African American experience resonate in O'Neal’s writing. Like Hughes, she channels the rhythm and cadence of Black life, while Brooks' introspective and often poignant explorations of everyday struggles influence the emotional depth of O'Neal’s poetry. Rodgers' exploration of themes like identity and resistance also permeates O'Neal’s work, making her writing both a continuation and evolution of this literary tradition.
Her poetry has resonated across borders, earning international recognition in countries such as Africa, Iran, Jamaica, Australia, Canada, Bermuda, and throughout the U.S. In 2004, her work was translated into Persian and featured in Golestaneh, a respected Persian magazine. Her creative voice has also been spotlighted on PBS, CNN, KVIE, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, FOX, and many other media platforms.
Beyond her literary achievements, O'Neal is deeply committed to mentoring young people. Through her independent publication, Make Some Noise! A Youth Poetry Anthology, she encourages adolescents aged 12–18 to find their voices and share their stories. In 2017, she released Make Some Noise IV: A Baton Rouge Youth Poetry Anthology, which includes works by local teens reflecting on the Baton Rouge police shootings, the 2016 Louisiana flood, social justice, and the personal challenges youth face in today's world.
O'Neal is also the president of Living Better Lives, a nonprofit organization, and the founder of the National Black History Bee, a trivia competition designed to engage students in African American history.
A passionate advocate for educational initiatives, O'Neal has also made her mark as a screenwriter, contributing to the writing team for the second season of the ABC daytime docu-series Home Sweet Home Hampton Roads.
Her upcoming projects include the novel Unloving, the documentary Hope of Finding Son: The Maurice Red Jefferson Story, and a stage play adaptation of her novel Sweet Lavender.
O'Neal continues to use her writing as a powerful tool for change, advocating for youth empowerment and cultural awareness while sharing stories that inspire and provoke thought.
