September 9, 1934 Wilsonia Benita Driver (Sonia Sanchez), poet and playwright, was born in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1943, Sanchez moved to Harlem, New York to live with her father. In 1955, she earned a Bachelor of Art degree in Political Science from Hunter College. Later she completed postgraduate work at New York University.
Tag Archives | playwright
May 22nd in African American History – James Mercer Langston Hughes
May 22, 1967 James Mercer Langston Hughes, poet, novelist, and playwright, died. Hughes was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He began writing in high school where he wrote for the school newspaper, edited the yearbook, and wrote short stories, poetry, and dramatic plays. Hughes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Langston University […]
May 19th in African American History – Lorraine Hansberry
May 19, 1930 Lorraine Hansberry, playwright and author, was born in Chicago, Illinois. In 1950, Hansberry moved to New York City to pursue a career as a writer and in 1959 her play, “A Raisin in the Sun,” debuted on Broadway. It was the first play written by an African American woman to be produced […]
February 4th in African American History – Raiford Chatman “Ossie” Davis
February 4, 2005 Raiford Chatman “Ossie” Davis, actor, director, playwright and social activist, died. Davis was born December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia. He began his acting career in 1939 with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem. Davis made his film debut in “No Way Out” (1950) and over the next 55 years appeared in […]
February 1st in African American History – James Mercer Langston Hughes
February 1, 1902 James Mercer Langston Hughes, poet, novelist and playwright, was born in Joplin, Missouri. Hughes began writing in high school where he wrote for the school newspaper, edited the yearbook, and wrote short stories, poetry, and dramatic plays. Hughes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Langston University in 1929. Hughes signature poem, […]
November 7th in African American History – Willis Richardson
November 7, 1977 Willis Richardson, playwright, died. Richardson was born November 5, 1889 in Wilmington, North Carolina but raised in Washington, D. C. In 1921, Richardson staged his first play, “The Deacon’s Awakening.” This was followed by “The Chip Woman’s Fortune” (1922), “Mortgaged” (1923), “The Broken Banjo” (1925), and “Bootblack Lover” (1926).
October 2nd in African American History – Frederick August Wilson
October 2, 2005 Frederick August Wilson, playwright, died. Wilson was born Frederick August Kittel on April 27, 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He dropped out of high school in the tenth grade and used the Carnegie Library to educate himself. He made such extensive use of the library that they later awarded him a degree, the […]