 Writing just before the onset of the Black Arts Movement, the Howard Poets remained distinct from this later generation because of their emphasis on aesthetics over nationalism, which was derived in part perhaps from their training in phenomenology, cultural relativism and other philosophical principles.Many of the Howard Poets were also raised during the bebop era and were influenced by the free-form styles of popular jazz musicians.Against this background, Johnston and Oswald Govan orchestrated a series of poetry readings on Howard’s campus beginning in 1958, and both students and community members enthusiastically received their performances.