Career
He has written numerous books, including Hornman (1996), Harriet Tubman (1996), Ornate With Smoke (1997), Half Black, Half Blacker (1970), and The Mojo Hands Call, I Must Go (1982). Some of his work was included in The Best American Poetry 1996. He was an advisor for the television production of the documentary The Promised Land.
He left after two years, and in 1962 traveled north to Chicago.
There he found work in a post office. Eventually he enrolled at Roosevelt University, majoring in psychology, while continuing to read widely.
Plumpp"s first book of poetry, Portable Soul, was published in 1969. Since then, he has edited and contributed to various anthologies, as well as publishing further collections of poetry.