Born March 5, Charles Henry Fuller was the playwright for the award winning play, A Soldier’s Play. Soldier’s Play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1982. That play was adapted to a movie, and Fuller was the screenwriter.
365 Black Books Angelina Weld Grimke Tuesday
Born February 25, Angelina Weld Grimke was a poet, playwright, and teacher. She is best known for her play, Rachel, which was performed in 1916 in Washington, DC. Some of her poems are included in several anthologies.
365 Black Books Langston Hughes Wednesday
Langston Hughes, poet, playwright, and short story writer, was born February 1. More about Langston Hughes can be found here. Some of his notable books:
365 Black Books Black Nativity Thursday
Langston Hughes wrote Black Nativity, a gospel play and adaptation of the nativity.
365 Black Books Play Friday
Another Detroit playwright is Dominique Morisseau. Her play, Detroit ’67, has been performed all over and is worth going to see when you get the chance. It is part of a trilogy known as The Detroit Project.
365 Black Books Play Saturday
Today’s post will feature a Detroit playwright: the late Ron Milner. His plays: What the Wine Sellers Buy, Checkmates, and Jazz Set were performed in several theaters in the U.S. I had the honor and pleasure of meeting him. He was intelligent, creative, politically and socially astute. I enjoyed watching his plays.
365 Black Books Theatrical Thursday
Today will focus on anthologies featuring African American Drama.
Book 1: Black Theater USA by James V. Hatch and Ted Shine
Book 2: Black Thunder An Anthology of Contemporary African American Drama edited by William B. Branch
Born on this day. . .
Woodie King, Jr. . .:http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/woodie-king-jr
More resources on Woodie King, Jr. :
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0454392/
https://www.tcg.org/Default.aspx?TabID=6413
March 11 Woman of the Day: Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote the play, “A Raisin in the Sun”, is March 11 Woman of the Day. “A Raisin in the Sun” was the first African American play when it opened on Broadway on March 11, 1959. More information about Hansberry and her play can be found by clicking here:
Biography from About.com: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/aframerwriters/p/hansberry.htm
Lesson plan on “A Raisin in the Sun” from EdSITEment: http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/raisin-sun-quest-american-dream
Shmoop: http://www.shmoop.com/a-raisin-in-the-sun/
Audio Patricia Marx interviews Lorraine Hansberry: http://www.wnyc.org/story/lorraine-hansberry/
The CamaraIfe Maktaba 