Happy birthday John Edgar Wideman! Born June 14, John Edgar Wideman is an African American novelist, short story writer, memoirist, and essayist. He was the first person to win the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction twice. His writing is known for experimental techniques and a focus on the African-American experience. A few of his notable books are:
Belated heavenly birthday Rudolph Fisher! Born May 9, Rudolph Fisher was an African American physician, radiologist, novelist, short story writer, dramatist, musician, and orator. He was known for his novel, The Conjure Man Dies, the very first detective novel written by an African-American, set in 1930s New York with only Black characters.
Happy birthday Charles R. Johnson! Born April 23, Charles R. Johnson is an award-winning author, McArthur Fellow, and professor. His novel, Middle Passage, won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1990. Here are a few of his notable novels:
Happy birthday Bryan Washington! Born April 22, Bryan is an award winning author of a few novels. His novels focus on the intersectionality of identity, culture, and relationships.
Happy 98th birthday Eugenia Collier! Eugenia Collier is a writer and critic best known for her 1969 short story “Marigolds”, which won the first Gwendolyn Brooks Prize for Fiction in 1969; it was Collier’s first published story. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Collier’s collection, Breeder and Other Stories, was released in 1993. More of her works:
Born March 25, 1939, Toni Cade Bambara was a writer, teacher, and activist. She passed away in 1995. Here are some of her notable works:
Victor LaValle, born February 3, is a short story writer and novelist. One novel, The Changeling is adapted for Apple TV+. Another novel, The Devil in Silver is adapted for AMC and will air as limited series later this year. More information about Victor LaValle can be found here.
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:
