Sherley Anne Williams (1944-1999)

Sherley Anne Williams, American novelist, poet, and scholar, was born in Bakersfield, California in 1944 to Jesse Winson and Lena Silver Williams. She was raised in poverty in a housing project in Fresno. Williams’ mother, who discouraged Sherley from reading because she thought books would … Read MoreSherley Anne Williams (1944-1999)

Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins (1859-1930)

Late 19th and early 20th century African American playwright, novelist, and columnist Pauline Hopkins was born in Portland, Maine in 1859. Hopkins was born to free parents of color who raised her in Maine for a short period before moving to Boston, Massachusetts. Hopkins’s father, … Read MorePauline Elizabeth Hopkins (1859-1930)