Mississippi's African-American Authors
The only document of its kind on the Internet, this comprehensive listing of Mississippi's African-American authors is intended to assist researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and primary and secondary students in their discovery and exploration of the state's African-American writers. Funded by the Mississippi State University Office of Research, this project is ongoing, and the list is continually updated. It is hoped that established and emerging authors will continually be identified and added to this list by its compilers and by the literary community, whose input is always welcome. Please direct feedback to Gail Peyton at gpeyton@library.msstate.edu.
In deciding what factors make a writer appropriate for the list, the central problem is determining an individual's relationship to the state. Obviously, someone born in Mississippi or living in the state for many years would be considered a Mississippian. There are others, however, who lived in the state for only a few months or years. These individuals may be considered Mississippians by virtue of the influence the state had on them or the influence they had on the state. Consequently, finding themselves on this list may surprise some individuals. An additional problem of definition is who is to be considered an author. We have taken the broad view and included authors who may be working in either fiction or nonfiction in any format or at any lengths, including playwrights, poets, and journalists.
Authors listed alphabetically by last name
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
Margarett Walker Alexander (1915-1998) She was born in Birmingham, Alabama. At age fifteen, she published her first poem, "I Want to Write," which appeared in the 1934 edition of Crisis Magazine, then edited by W.E.B. DuBois. Margarett received her B.A. degree from Northwestern University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Her first job was with the WPA Federal Writer's Project in Chicago. While there, she renewed her acquaintance with Richard Wright. She has been recognized as an expert on the Harlem Renaissance, a black cultural revolution of the 1920's. In 1949 she moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where she taught English at Jackson State University, for more than thirty years. She retired from teaching in 1979. Alexander is honored as a writer, lecturer and poet. Some of her published works include: Prophets For A New Day, October Journey, Jubilee, How I Wrote Jubilee, For My People, and co-authored with Nikki Giovanni Poicet Educations: Conversation Between Nikki Giovanni and Margaret. BIBLIOGRAPHY Mississippi Black History Makers Selected Black American Authors African American Encyclopedia |
Del Marie Neely Anderson (1937- ) She was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She received her education at Alcorn State University and San Diego State University. Anderson worked as a model for the Ebony Fashion Fair in 1961. She also appeared on the cover of Jet magazine on December 7 of that same year. As a model, Anderson had the opportunity to meet President John F. Kennedy at a White House luncheon. Anderson was surprised to learn that the President knew of her through his wife's involvement with the Fair in Boston. After a successful modeling career, Anderson pursued a career in academics working as an assistant professor, the Dean of Counseling, and, later, the Dean of Students. After a massive search for a president at San Jose City College, Anderson was selected as the president, being one of the few African American women heading a non-black institution. Currently, Anderson is pursuing a writing career. She completed a chapter entitled "Non-Traditional Paths to Advancement" for Patricia Mitchell's book Cracking the Wall: Women in Higher Education. She is also working on a book for Jossey-Bass Publishers describing the new image of community colleges. BIBLIOGRAPHY Notable Black American Women, Book II |
William Alexander Attaway (1911-1986) In 1911, Attaway was born in Greenville, Mississippi. He received his education at the University of Illinois. Attaway was known for interpreting the Great Migration of the thirties. Some of his written works are Let Me Breathe Thunder (1939), Blood on the Forge (1941), Calypso Song Book (1957), and Hear America Singing (1967). In addition to writing, he also wrote the script for the screen version of Irvin Wallace's "The Man" and arranged songs for Harry Belafonte. BIBLIOGRAPHY Selected Black Americans, Africans and Caribbean Authors Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2003
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