Poorman A. Blackstar was born in Greenville, South Carolina on January 23, 1956. He came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a child. While attending Olney High School, he briefly wrote for the school newspaper and for the school magazine (The Palladium). After completing high school in 1973, he worked primarily for non-profit organizations as a typist, a secretary and as an office manager, while continuing to write and to publish his poetry in local publications, as broadsides and in booklets. In 1992 he completed his Associates Degree in General Studies at Philadelphia Community College. In 1996 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology. In 1998 he completed a Master’s Degree at the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Museum Studies. Poorman A. Blackstar worked as Drug and Alcohol counselor until 2013 and continues to publish his poetry as broadsides and in booklets for friends, family and others. He is married, has four daughters and lives in Upper Darby, PA.