1985– Vocalist, songwriter Ciara, photograph. Noel Hines/Landov. Youthful R&B vocalist Ciara (pronounced "Sierra") became an icon on the pop music scene in the summer of 2004. Her single "Goodies" spent seven weeks at No. 1 on pop charts, and its unsyncopated but subtly layered beats pounded out of sport-utility vehicles all over North America. A striking beauty …
Nationality: American. Born: Chicago, Illinois, 1954. Education: Loyola University, B.A. 1976; University of Iowa, M.F.A. 1978. Career: Teacher, Latino Youth Alternative High School, Chicago, Illinois, 1978-80; college recruiter and counselor for minority students, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, 1981-82; artist-in-residence, Foundation Michael Karolyi, Vence, France, 1983; literature direct…
Henry Cisneros: 1947—: San Antonio mayor and Cabinet secretary. Henry Cisneros has often been compared with his immediate supervisor for much of the 1990s—U.S. president Bill Clinton. Both men were intelligent, politically skilled, well-educated, and committed not only to the ideal of change but to the nuts-and-bolts challenges of implementing it. And both were irreversibly diver…
Sandra Cisneros: 1954—: Writer. As the first Hispanic-American to receive a major publishing contract, Sandra Cisneros has provided a voice for she who had had none before, the Hispanic-American woman—or to use Cisneros' favored word—the chicana. "I'm trying to write the stories that haven't been written. I feel like a cartographer. I'm d…
Evelyn Cisneros: 1959—: Ballerina. For nearly a quarter of a century, Evelyn Cisneros captivated audiences as the prima ballerina of the prestigious San Francisco Ballet. She gained worldwide acclaim for her dancing which was both dramatically expressive and technically precise. Choreographers clamored to create dances for her. Partners were eager to share the stage with her. Critics we…
Over the course of his lifetime, Marc Cisneros has navigated a lot of terrain. Cisneros began life among the cowhands in the dusty ranchlands of South Texas, knuckled his way through the jungles of Vietnam, became an Army general, and ended up establishing policy among the halls of academia. His accomplishments have made Cisneros a favorite South Texas son. On the outskirts of his hometown of Prem…
Born 1951, in Lookout, PA; Varrichio, January 13, 1995; Education: Attended New School for Social Research (now New School University), 1984-88, Luzerne County Community College, University of Scranton, and University of Wisconsin. Politics: Republican. Religion: Methodist/Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, writing, walking, regional history. Office—R.R. 1, Box 153, Damascus,…
1914-2005 Psychologist, educator, writer Kenneth Bancroft Clark will remain among the most prominent black social scientists of the twentieth century. For many years a professor of psychology at City College of New York (now City College of the City University of New York), Clark achieved national recognition when his work was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 1954 ruling that racially segreg…
Born 1956, in Kawakawa, New Zealand; Education: Attended Bay of Islands College, 1969-72; Deakin University, B.A., 1992. Agent—Kendra Marcus, Bookstop Literary Agency, 67 Meadow View Rd., Orinda, CA 94563. Library assistant in New Zealand, 1973-76; community arts worker for various organizations in Australia, including Footscray Community Arts Center, 1989-95; Victoria University, Melbourn…
Born 1955, in London, England; present surname, Falloon); Education: Chelsea School of Art, B.A. (with honors), 1978; Royal College of Art, M.A. (with honors), 1983. Agent—Laura Cecil, 17 Alwyne Villas, London N1, England. Author, illustrator, and editor of children's books, 1983–. Worked in a design studio and as a freelance illustrator of newspapers, periodicals, and book ja…
(J. Clarke) Born 1943, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Education: University of New South Wales, B.A. (with honors), 1964; Australian National University, M.A. (with honors), 1966. Teacher, librarian, lecturer, and writer. New South Wales Premier's Award shortlist, 1989, and Editors' Choice designation, Booklist, Best Book for Young Adults designation, American Library Associa…
Nationality: British. Born: Minehead, Somerset, 1917. Education: Huish's Grammar School, Taunton, Somerset, 1927-36; King's College, London, 1946-48, B.Sc. (honours) in physics and mathematics 1948. Military Service: Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, 1941-46; served as Radar Instructor, and Technical Officer on the first Ground Controlled Approach radar; originated proposal f…
Nationality: Barbadian. Born: Barbados, 1934. Education: Combermere Boys' School, Barbados; Harrison's College, Barbados; Trinity College, University of Toronto. Career: Reporter in Timmins and Kirkland Lake, Ontario, 1959-60; since 1963, freelance producer and broadcaster, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Toronto; scriptwriter, Educational Television, Toronto; Ziskind Professor of…
Born 1961, in Texas; Education: Atlanta College of Art, B.F.A., 1984; attended Georgia State University, 1986, School of Visual Arts, New York City, M.F.A., 1996. Hobbies and other interests: "Riding horses, western and English style, inline skating, playing with my dog Ah Wing, traveling, learning to speak Italian." Agent—William Reiss, John Hawkins and Associates, Inc., 71 W…
1907-2005 YWCA President A staunch advocate of racial equality and a life long supporter of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Helen Claytor spent her career working tirelessly and courageously to ensure minority rights. The first black president of the National YWCA, she dedicated her talents to the organization and to the cause of betterment for all. Also active in the Urban …
Roberto Clemente: 1934-1972: Baseball player. The first Puerto Rican member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Roberto Clemente broke down many of the barriers against Latinos in baseball. Puerto Rican broadcaster and journalist Luis Mayoral was quoted in Sports Illustrated as saying, "Clemente was our Jackie Robinson. He was on a crusade to show the American public what a Hispanic man, a bl…
(Andrew Elborn) Born 1949, in Camden, NJ; son of William Denney, Jr. (an insurance executive) and Doris (Kruse) Andrew Clements Clements; Education: Northwestern University, B.A. (English literature), 1971; National Louis University, M.A. (elementary education), 1972. Agent—Writers House, 21 West 26th St., New York, NY 10010. (As Andrew Elborn) Bird Adalbert, Picture Book Studio (Sax…
1935–2005 Professional baseball player, businessman, lawyer, writer On March 1, 1969, Donn Clendenon retired from professional baseball. Seven months later, he was playing again and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1969 World Series as a member of the world champion New York Mets. All of this occurred due to trades, contracts and other concerns that are part of the business of baseball…
1922(?)-1990 Professional basketball player One of the first three African-American players in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton was actually the first under official contract to play in the league. He was a "first" in another way as well: he might be considered the NBA's first black star. While Chuck Cooper and Earl Lloyd, Clift…
Born 1928, in Cleveland, OH; Education: Attended DePauw University, 1946–49. Politics: "Variable." Religion: Protestant. WGAR-Radio, Cleveland, OH, scriptwriter for weekly juvenile series. "Fairytale Theatre," 1949–53; freelance writer, 1976–. President, Los Altos Morning Forum, 1971–73. Shirley Climo Authors Guild, Society of Children'…
Born in London, England. Hobbies and other interests: Painting, reading, movies, gardening, exercise. Agent—c/o Aladdin, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Writer and illustrator. Formerly worked in an advertising agency. Drawing Horses and Ponies, Hamlyn Children's (London, England), 1994. The Best Pony for Me!, Macdonald (Hemel Hempsted, Engla…
Nationality: American. Born: Eutaw, Alabama, 1937. Education: Livingston State College, 1957-61, B.A. in English 1961; Vanderbilt University, 1961-63, M.A. in English 1963; Breadloaf School of English, Middlebury College, 1967-68. Career: Professor of English, 1963-89, and since 1989, writer-in-residence, both University of Montevallo, Alabama. Awards: Story Magazine 's Story of the Year Aw…
1937-2005 Lawyer Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. led the winning team of lawyers in what has been known as the "trial of the century," and in the process became arguably the most famous lawyer in the world. Cochran's successful defense of former football great O. J. Simpson against charges of murder in the televised trial was followed by millions of Americans. Although his trial tacti…
Born 1968, in Chicago, IL; Education: Northeastern Illinois University, graduated, 1992. Hobbies and other interests: "Besides being with my family, I love to dance and sing in my living room. I listen to jazz music and showtunes, and I especially like to sing gospel music and bang my tambourine very loudly. What I lack in talent I make up for in noise. (Some people have said the same about…
Nationality: Romanian-American. Born: Sibiu, Romania, 1946. Career: Visiting assistant professor, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1979-80; visiting professor, Naropa Institute, Boulder, Colorado; professor of English, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 1984—; regular commentator on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. Awards: Big Table Younger Poets Award, 1970; …
Nationality: British. Born: Birmingham, 1961. Education: Trinity College, Cambridge, 1980-83, B.A. (honours) in English literature; Warwick University, 1983-86, Ph.D in English literature. Career: Loan officer, Barclays Bank; poetry tutor, Warwick University; cabaret pianist; legal proofreader; arts journalist. Agent: Tony Peake, Peake Associates, 14 Grafton Crescent, London NW1 8SL, England. My f…
Nationality: South African. Born: Cape Town, 1940. Education: The University of Cape Town, B.A. 1960, M.A. 1963; University of Texas, Austin, Ph.D. 1969. Career: Applications programmer, IBM, London, 1962-63; systems programmer, International Computers, Bracknell, Berkshire, 1964-65; Assistant Professor, 1968-71, and Butler Professor of English, 1984, State University of New York, Buffalo. Lecture…
Born 1952, in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico; immigrated to United States, 1956; Ethnicity: "Puerto Rican" Education: Augusta College, B.A., 1974; Florida Atlantic University, M.A., 1977; attended Oxford University, 1977. Office—Mercer University College, Forsyth, GA 31029. Agent—Berenice Hoffman Literary Agency, 215 West 75th St., New York, NY 10023. Bilingual teacher at pu…
Born 1931; Education: University of Wyoming, B.S., 1953, M.A., 1961. Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, Manhattan, KS, associate professor of English, 1961—. Member of Wabaunsee County (KS) Planning Commission, 1969—. Military service: U.S. Army, 1954-56. Authors Guild. The Muskie Hook, illustrated by Tom O'Sullivan, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1969. The …
Born 1926, in Brooklyn, NY; (second marriage) Gabriel, Jem. Education: Attended Newburgh Free Academy, 1943, and Antioch College, 1944-45. Politics: Independent progressive. Religion: Jewish. Writer. Parents' Choice award, 1984, for Born to Dance Samba. Will I Have a Friend?, illustrated by Lillian Hoban, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1967. Best Friends, illustrated by Lillian Hoban, Macmillan …
Born 1968, in Silver Spring, MD. Education: Graduated from Barnard College. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Fl., New York, NY 10020. Writer. Author's Guild. American Library Association (ALA) Best Book for Young Adults selection, and New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age selection, both 2003, and Interna…
Male. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Atheneum, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Artist and illustrator. Also works as a freelance commercial artist. Silver Medal, and Gold Medal, Society of Illustrators. (And illustrator) Orson Blasts Off!, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2004. Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Always My Dad, Knopf (New York, NY), 1995.…
Nationality: British. Born: Woking, Surrey, 1936. Education: Balham Secondary School, London. Military Service: Served in the Royal Air Force, 1955-57. Career: Since 1958, staff member, Reuters news agency, London; reporter, 1965-70, and senior editor, 1974-94, Central Office of Information, London. Northern Arts Fellow, universities of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Durham, 1970-72. I have no general s…
Born 1949, in Jersey, Channel Islands, England; Education: Canterbury College of Art, B.A. (with honors), 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Breeding show horses, riding side saddle, sailing. Author and illustrator of children's books, 1973—. Exhibitions: Work exhibited at Bologna International Children's Book Fair, 1985-89; and Salon International du Livre, Switzerland, 1988.…
(Ann Cooke) Born 1944, in Newark, NJ; Education: Attended University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Indiana University—Bloomington; City College of New York (now of the City University of New York), B.A., 1967. Office—c/o Scholastic, Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999. New York City Board of Education, New York, NY, elementary school librarian and instructor, 1967–68…
195(?)— Women's health advocate, association executive Much of Lorraine Cole's professional life has been devoted to the service of people, causes, and not-for-profit organizations. Inspired by the strength, integrity, and creativity of her mother and father, she not only became the first in her family to finish college, but she also earned her doctorate and went on to hold hi…
Born 1971, in Bedfordshire, England. Education: Graduate of University of East Anglia. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Bloomsbury Publishing, 38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HB, England. Writer. British Broadcasting Corporation, London, England, editor and writer of children's magazines, commissioning editor of science-fiction titles for BBC Worldwide, 1997, creative editor of pre-teen titles; La…
Nationality: British. Born: Lincolnshire, 1931. Education: A boarding school in Shropshire and at Runton Hill School, Norfolk. Career: Literary agent, Anthony Blond Ltd., London, 1952-57. Awards: W.H. Smith Literary award, 1981. Hon. M.A.: University of Bath, 1988. Fellow, Royal Society of Literature, 1981. Agent: Peters Fraser and Dunlop, 503-504 The Chambers, Chelsea Harbour, Lots Road, London S…
Born 1947, in Norfolk, VA; Ethnicity: "Scottish/Cherokee/English." Education: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, B.A. (anthropology/zoology), 1976; Simmons School of Social Work, M.S.W., 1978; graduate study at Brandeis University, 1987, and at University of New Hampshire Family Research Laboratory. Cryptozoologist, filmmaker, educator, and author. Worked in mental-health fiel…
1946— Poet, critic Coleman, Wanda, photograph. © Christopher Felver/Corbis. "Others often use the word 'uncompromising' to describe my work," poet Wanda Coleman told Contemporary Poets. "I find that quite pleasing." Coleman, who has claimed to be the most prolific African-American poet of all time, has written thousands of poems and ha…
First name is pronounced "Ow-en"; born 1965, in Wexford, Ireland; Education: Teacher's training course, Dublin, Ireland, graduated 1986. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, theater, parachuting. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Hyperion Books, 77 West 66th St., 11th Fl., New York, NY 10023. Writer. Primary school teacher, 1987-2001. White Raven Award, 1998, for Benny and Omar; …
(Charles Williams) Born 1928, in New York, NY; Education: Hamilton College, A.B., 1950. Hobbies and other interests: "I have been deeply involved in jazz from youth and continue to work as a jazz musician regularly." Agent—c/o William Deiss, John Hawkins and Associates, 71 W. 23rd St., New York, NY 10010. Writer. Magazine editor, 1952–58. Military service: U.S. Army, 19…
1948-2005 Singer As the most commercially successful member of James Brown's Revue, Lyn Collins became a funk diva well before either word had much meaning. Her song "Think (About It)" topped the charts in 1972 and inspired a generation of sample-happy hip-hoppers in the 1990s. Yet, despite her talent and success, her name has barely registered on the country's musical …
Poet, writer, artist, and illustrator; has artwork in permanent and private collections in the U.S. and Japan. Worcester Art Museum, member of faculty; teaches workshops in creativity, writing, and life drawing; gives readings; visits schools as guest author. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, PEN New England. My Friend Andrew, illustrated by Howard Berelson…
Born 1944, in Denver, CO; Education: University of Michigan, A.B. (with distinction), 1966; Johns Hopkins University, M.A.T., 1967; University of Oklahoma, postgraduate work, 1977; New York University, book publishing program certificate, 1980. Hobbies and other interests: "Exploring cemeteries to find graves of historic people I write about; kayaking; going to every type of bookstore, espe…
Born 1964, in South Auckland, New Zealand. Education: Trained for the ministry; University of Auckland, degree (English); earned M.D. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Steele Roberts Publishing, Box 9321, Wellington, New Zealand. Physician and author. Worked variously as a builder and cook; Whangarei Hospital, doctor; Waikato Hospital, doctor. New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, judge, 200…
Born 1960, in York, England; Education: Massey University, diploma, 1980; Victoria University, M.A., 1983. Hobbies and other interests: Painting, swimming. Freelance illustrator, 1981-2003; Weta Workshop, Wellington, New Zealand, staff writer, 2003—. New Zealand Illustrators' Guild (president, 1998-2001), New Zealand Writers Guild, New Zealand Society of Authors. (Self-illustrated) F…
Willie Colón: 1950—: Salsa performer, producer, composer, activist. Willie Colón was one of the founders of the jazz-inflected Latin American dance music known as salsa. In the words of the Los Angeles Times, he was "the unifier, the alche-mist, [and] the enabler" of the rhythmic salsa style. An unusually multitalented musician, Colón became a star him…
Born 1918, in Tacoma, WA; Education: Attended University of Washington, 1936-39. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Jewish. Agent—McIntosh and Otis, Inc., 310 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Children's book author. Only Jane, illustrated by Velma Ilsley, Thomas Nelson (New York, NY), 1960. Too Many Girls, Thomas Nelson (New York, NY), 1960. Molly Cone The Trouble with Toby, illus…
(Michael Greatrex Coney, Mike Coney) OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born September 28, 1932, in Birmingham, England; died of lung cancer November 4, 2005, in Saanichton, British Columbia, Canada. Accountant, hotelkeeper, government official, and author. Coney worked a variety of jobs in his lifetime, but is remembered by readers as a science-fiction novelist and winner of the Br…
1951— College dean, physician Dr. PonJola Coney serves as the dean of the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Meharry is a respected professional training ground among historically black colleges in America, and Coney is one of just a handful of women to head a medical school in the United States. Born on New Year's Eve in 1951, Coney was one of sev…
Born 1942, in New York, NY; Education: Attended Hofstra College (now Hofstra University), 1959–62. Hobbies and other interests: "I like to cook, do crossword puzzles, watch old movies, and play Scrabble. I compete in crossword puzzle and Scrabble tournaments. I love to read, especially mysteries, cookbooks, and popular history, sociology, and psychology." Agent—McIntosh…
Born 1948, in VA; Education: Smith College, bachelor's degree, 1971; graduate of Johns Hopkins University writing seminars program, 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, cooking, reading, fishing, camping, canoeing, listening to jazz. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Henry Holt & Co., 115 West 18th St., New York, NY 10011. Writer. Has also worked as a director of a community center, a …
Nationality: Northern Irish. Born: County Cavan, Northern Ireland. Career: Screenwriter, actor, and producer for both film and television, 1980s—. Much of Shane Connaughton's writing is concerned with the notion of boundaries or borders, and interest in these artificial constructs is reflected in the titles of two of his works, A Border Station and A Border Diary. Considering that Co…
1960— Liberian rebel leader As leader of the rebel group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), Sekou Damate Conneh Jr. takes credit for bringing about the removal of dictator Charles Taylor from his position as president of Liberia. Taylor's resignation on August 11, 2003, came after 13 years of civil war. Taylor left office for exile in Nigeria only when LURD for…
Nationality: American. Born: Atlanta, Georgia, 1945. Education: The Citadel, B.A. 1967. Career: High school teacher, Beaufort, South Carolina, 1967-69; elementary schoolteacher, Daufuskie, South Carolina, 1969. Awards: Anisfield-Wolf award (Cleveland Foundation), 1972; National Endowment for the Arts award for achievement in education, 1974; Georgia Governor's award for Arts, 1978; Lillian …
Nationality: British. Born: Preston, Lancashire, 1940. Education: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, 1959-61. Career: Since 1961 professional actor. Writer-in-residence, St. Martin's College, Lancaster, 1982-83. Awards: Writers Guild award, 1977; American Academy E.M. Forster award, 1977; Hawthornden prize, 1978; Arts Council bursary, 1979; Southern Arts prize, 1985; Arthur Welton s…
In Lisa Broadie Cook's Martin MacGregor's Snowman, a young boy who holds the record for making the largest snowman in town is forced to hone his snowman-making skills with substitute materials when the real show refuses to fall. (Illustration by Adam McCauley.) Female. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Walker & Company, 104 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011. Teacher and writer…
Born in England. Education: London University, M.A. (education). United Kingdom Year of Literature festival, Swansea, Wales, coordinator, 1995; WORDPLAY children's festival, organizer, 1995–; Book House Training Centre, director of course on children's publishing, 1995–; Disney Consumer Products, director of course on children's publishing, 1997; National Literac…
Pseudonym: Harry Summerfield Hoff. Nationality: British. Born: Crewe, Cheshire, 1910. Education: Christ's College, Cambridge, M.A. in physics 1933. Military Service: Served in the Royal Air Force, 1940-45. Career: Schoolmaster, Leicester, 1933-40; assistant commissioner, Civil Service Commission, London, 1945-58. Part-time personnel consultant, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, 1958-7…
Born 1963, in London, England; Education: Attended Royal Academy of Music. Politics: Labor Party. Religion: Church of England (Anglican). Hobbies and other interests: Playing piano, classical and lounge music; Americana, especially roadside graphics, mini golf, eggs, all things small and beautiful. Office—c/o Transworld Publishers, 61-63 Oxbridge Rd., London W5 5SA, England. Agent—Hi…
Office—c/o Author Mail, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Writer. Sunday Times, London, England, reporter and feature writer, 1956-63. Society of Authors (United Kingdom), Authors League of America, Authors Guild, Writers Guild of America, Dramatists Guild, PEN. Over Sea, Under Stone, illustrated by Margery Gill, J. Cape (…
1926-1984 Professional basketball pioneer The man who officially integrated professional basketball when he was drafted by the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in April of 1950, Chuck Cooper was a modest figure who specialized in offensive team play and generally stayed away from the spotlight. Like other early African-American players in the NBA, his experiences in the …
Born 1971, in New Haven, CT; Education: Yale College, B.A., 1993. Agent—Darhansoff & Verrill Literary Agency, 179 Franklin St., 4th Fl., New York, NY. New Yorker magazine, messenger, 1993-95; writer and artist, 1995—. Country Fair, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1997. Ballpark, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1998. Building, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1999. Henry, Chronicle Books (S…
Nationality: American. Born: Charles City, Iowa, 1932. Education: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 1949-51; Indiana University, Bloomington, B.A. 1953; University of Chicago, 1958-61, M.A. 1965. Military Service: Served in the United States Naval Reserve, 1953-57: Lieutenant. Career: Taught at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, 1966-67, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 1967-69, Co…
1954— Martial arts master and teacher Through a lifetime of hard work, Michael Copeland has become both an example and a teacher of what can be accomplished when desire is combined with determination. Beginning as a young boy trying to find a way to protect himself from the attacks of older boys, Copeland devoted his life to the study of Asian arts of self-defense. In the process, he not on…
Female; Education: Trinity College, Cambridge, M.A. (history). Agent—A. P. Watt, 20 John St., London WC2, England. Writer and journalist. A Great Task of Happiness: The Life of Kathleen Scott (biography), Macmillan (London, England), 1995. Baby Love (novel), Flamingo (London, England), 1997. Desiring Cairo (novel; sequel to Baby Love), Flamingo (London, England), 1999. Tree of Pearls (novel…
1935— Poet, educator An underappreciated figure of the Black Arts movement of the 1960s and 1970s, poet Sam Cornish wrote about the urban African-American experience in a voice just as tough and realistic as that of any other black poet of the time. His poems, however, replace the enthusiastic self-expression and the experimental African-American idioms of much modern black poetry with a te…
Bert Corona: 1918-2001: Labor organizer. Bert Corona, a longtime leader in Latino civil-rights circles, died in early 2001 after nearly seventy years of public service. Following a career as a union organizer, Corona served for many years as executive director of La Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, a Latino organization in the Los Angeles area that fought on behalf of undocumented Mexicans and oth…
Born 1977, in NJ. Education: Sarah Lawrence College, B.A.; New York University, M.A. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Scholastic, Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Writer. You Remind Me of You: A Poetry Memoir, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002. Splintering (verse novel), Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004. New Jersey native Eireann Corrigan began writing poetry as a child, and when her older brothe…
1951— Journalist, writer Ellis Cose was a Chicago newspaper columnist before he was old enough to vote, and from that brilliant beginning has gone on to build successful careers in three related fields. A respected journalist, Cose has worked as reporter and columnist for several major newspapers and went on to become editor of the New York Daily News's editorial page and contributin…
Born 0027;s name Lisa; Ethnicity: "Argentine." Agent—c/o Author Mail, Viking, Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Comic-book writer and illustrator, author, and toymaker. U.F.O. (Unidentified Fun Object) Toys, founder and designer; creator figurines, including Black Terror, Kaiju Kids, Honk-Honk-Ashoo, and Funboy. The Story of Honk-Honk-Ashoo and Swella-Bow-Wo…
Born 1952, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Education: University of Western Ontario, B.A.; Slade School of Fine Art, London, England, Dip.Ad.; Royal College of Art, London, M.A. Agent—Caroline Walsh, David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John St., Golden Square, London W1F 9HA, England. Freelance cinematographer and director for films and television, 1980—; writer. Ella and the Naug…
Born 1969, in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada; Education: Earned two bachelors degrees and a CERTSEL certificate. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Lobster Press, 1620 Sherbrooke St. West, Ste. C-D, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1C9, Canada. Writer. Worked variously as a bridal consultant, seamstress, small-business owner, retail fabric salesperson, homemaker, and mother. Canadian Children's Book Centre,…
Nationality: Canadian. Born: Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1961. Education: Attended Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, Canada; completed a two-year course in Japanese business science, Hawaii, 1986. Career: Writer, sculptor, and editor. Host of The Search for Generation X (documentary), PBS, 1991. Lives in Vancouver. Douglas Coupland emerged in the 1990s as a novelist who seemed to cap…
(Robyn Tallis) Born 1950, in Syracuse, NY; Education: Attended Duke University and State University of New York at Binghamton; State University of New York at Oswego, B.A., 1974. Politics: "Eclectic." Religion: Unitarian. Agent—Ashley Grayson, 1342 18th Street, San Pedro, CA 90732. Author. Wetzel Road Elementary, Liverpool, NY, teacher, 1974-81; Full Cast Audio, Syracuse, NY, …
Nationality: Australian. Born: Perth, Western Australia, 1914. Education: The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, B.A. in English 1940, Dip. Ed. 1946. Military Service: Served in the Royal Australian Air Force, 1943-45. Career: Clerk, farm labourer, and casual worker, 1930-39; teacher, 1941-42; member of the faculty, University of Western Australia, 1946-50; Senior English Master, Scotch Co…
(Cassia Joy Cowley) Born 1936; Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Spinning, fishing, "other soothing pastimes." Writer, 1967–. Pharmacists' apprentice in New Zealand, 1953–56. New Zealand Buckland Literary Award, 1970, for Man of Straw; New Zealand Literary Achievement Award, 1980; New Zealand AIM Children's Book Awards, Joy Cowley198…
Born 1954, in San Francisco, CA; Education: Lewis-Clark State College, B.A., 1979; Northern Arizona University, M.A., 1984. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Presbyterian. Hobbies and other interests: Music, bird watching, reading, playing bass guitar. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Holiday House, 425 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Welches School District, Welches, OR, teacher, 1985-92; West Linn-W…
Born 1950, in Kent, England; Education: Attended Royal Leamington Art School. Hobbies and other interests: Completing triathalons (swimming, biking, and running). Agent—c/o Author Mail, Star Bright Books, 325 West 38th St., New York, NY 10018. Children's book author and illustrator. Active on behalf of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Seal Research Unit. Muralist and car…
Nationality: British. Born: Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Hertfordshire, 1946. Education: Enfield Grammar School, Middlesex, 1957-64; Birmingham College of Commerce, 1965-68; University of London (external), B.A. (honours) in English 1968. Career: Volunteer in educational television, Voluntary Service Overseas, Khartoum, Sudan, 1968-69; freelance journalist and writer, 1972-86; since 1986 full-time nove…
Born 1943, in Galveston, TX; Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Principia College, B.A., 1965; Webster University, M.A.T., 1984. Politics: Independent. Religion: Christian Scientist. Hobbies and other interests: Nature education. Worked at Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1965, and Girl Scouts of Nations, Capital Council, 1966; nursery school teacher in Monrovia, IN, 1972-81;…
Name is accented on second syllable; born 1951, in Miles City, MT; Education: University of Montana, B.A. (with high honors). Politics: Democrat. Religion: Episcopalian. Agent—Paige Gillies, 231 Judd Rd., Easton, CT 06612-1025. Children's book illustrator. Chico Chism Chicago Blues Band, bass player. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Debbie Driscoll, Three T…
Born 1959, in Lancaster, PA; Education: University of Maryland, B.S., 1984. office—K. Michael Crawford Studio, 7534 Cherry Tree Dr., Fulton, MD 20759. Illustrator of books and educational products; freelance illustrator for Special Olympics, Disney, Scholastic, and Hanna Barbera. Exhibitions: Works have been exhibited throughout the United States. Society of Children's Book Writers …
Born 1938, in Birstall, Leicestershire, England; Education: Attended Dudley Training College. Hobbies and other interests: Walking, reading, horseback riding, theater-going, "looking after my rabbit." Agent—c/o Author Mail, Walker Books, 87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ, England. Worked as a teacher in Leicestershire, England, 1960–90, Yorkshire, England, 1962–6…
1947– Professional football coach Crennel, Romeo, photograph. Ron Kuntz/Reuters/Landov. With a lifetime of football experience and a spirit of persistence forged during a pioneering coaching career in the Deep South, Romeo Crennel seemed a promising choice to lead the faltering Cleveland Browns National Football League franchise when he was named head coach in 2005. Crennel had alrea…
Born 1952, in Baltimore, MD; Education: Washington College, B.A., 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Birds, beachcombing, collecting old books, walking in the woods. Success for All Foundation, Baltimore, MD, Curriculum developer for adolescent literacy programs; former curriculum developer for Baltimore Curriculum Project. Worked variously as a freelance writer and editor, a researcher for a huma…
OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born July 11, 1934, in Nottingham, England; died of cancer, September 26, 2005, in Eakring, Nottinghamshire, England. Author. Cresswell was an award-winning children's author known for her works of fantasy and humor for all ages, including the popular "Bagthorpe" books. Interested in writing from an early age, she enjoyed poetr…
Born 1947, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Education: Attended Queensland Institute of Technology; University of Queensland, Diploma (civil engineering drafting), 1970, B.A., 1979, M.A., 1984. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Lothian Books, 11 Munro St., Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia. Writer for children and young adults, 1985—. McDonald, Wagner, and Priddle, Brisbane, Queenslan…
1949– Historian Crew, Spencer, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. A highly-respected historian of the black American experience, Dr. Spencer R. Crew's innovative museum exhibits have brought new life to American history. He is perhaps best known for his study of the Great Migration—the massive movement of Southern blacks to Northern cities in the early twentieth century. Crew w…
Nationality: American. Born: Alma, Georgia, 1935. Education: The University of Florida, Gainesville, B.A. 1960, M.S.Ed. 1962. Military Service: Served in the United States Marine Corps, 1953-56: Sergeant. Career: English teacher, Broward Junior College, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1962-68. Associate professor, 1968-74, and since 1974 professor of English, University of Florida. Awards: Bread Loaf Wr…
Born 1963, in Frankfurt, Germany; Education: Yale University, B.A., 1985. Office—c/o Greenwillow Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Author and illustrator of children's books, and animator. Freelance animation artist/coordinator, 1986-94, and illustrator, 1991—. Ink Tank (animation studio), New York, NY, producer, 1995-97. One Hot Summer Day, Greenwillow …
Pseudonyms: John Lange; Jeffery Hudson; Michael Douglas. Nationality: American. Born: 23 October 1942. Education: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, A.B.(summa cum laude) 1964 (Phi Beta Kappa): Harvard Medical School, M.D. 1969: Salk Institute, La Jolla, California (postdoctoral fellow), 1969-70. Career: Visiting writer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 1988. Awards: My…
I learned how to write at Hampton Elementary, a public school within walking distance from my childhood home in Detroit. Learned how to write, that is, in the see-Jane-go-see-Spot-run sense of the phrase. Learning how to really write—write well—is something I'll be working at until the day I die. But my first written sentences came into the world courtesy of Hampton Elementary…
Born 1983; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, M.S. (clinical psychology), 1985, Ph.D. (clinical psychology), 1990; attended Northern Virginia Community College substance abuse certification program, 1991–92. Office—13649 Office Place, Ste. 102, Woodbridge, VA 22192. Writer. Child and Family Counseling Center, clinical director; clinical psychologist in private practice; subs…
Agent—Linda Pratt, Sheldon Fogelman Agency, 10 East 40th St., New York, NY 10016. Writer and poet. Poet in the Schools for Colorado, 1992-97; teacher of independent writing program in Colorado schools; Vermont College, cofounder and director of M.F.A. program in writing for children, 1990-92, director of marketing and admissions, 1998-2000; Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, PA, currently d…
(Constance Crook) Born 1930, in Ameliasburg, Ontario, Canada; Education: Queen's University, Kingston, B.A. (English, history, psychology), 1951; University of Toronto, education diploma for grades 1-13, 1955; graduate study at Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL), 1953–54; Ministry of Education/Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, Reading Spe-Connie Brummel Crookcialist, 1…
1958- Athlete Crooks, Garth, photograph. Ben Radford/Getty Images. Garth Crooks made English soccer history as the first black player to score a goal in a championship final in England's FA (Football Association) Cup, the oldest organized soccer competition in the world. Crooks' kick that day in 1981 came at a time when black players among the teams of England's most popular s…
1954— College football coach Croom, Sylvester, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. When Sylvester Croom Jr. became head football coach at Mississippi State University (MSU) late in 2003, the history books beckoned. Croom was the first African American tapped to lead a Southeastern Conference (SEC) school in its 71-year history. National media swooped down on t…
(Gillian Clare Cross) Born 1945, in London, England; Gillian CrossEducation: Somerville College, Oxford, England, B.A. (with first-class honors), 1969, M.A., 1972; University of Sussex, D.Phil., 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Playing the piano, orienteering. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Oxford Children's Books, Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St., Oxford OX2 6DP, England. Aut…
(Kevin John William Crossley-Holland) Born 1941, in Mursley, Buckinghamshire, England; (third marriage) Oenone, Eleanor. Education: St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, M.A. (with honors), 1962. Hobbies and other interests: Music, archaeology, travel, walking, wine, the company of friends. Kevin Crossley-Holland Office—Clare Cottage, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8HE, England. Agent—c/o Author Ma…
Born 1948, in Leeds, England; Education: Norwich School of Art, diploma in art and design, 1970; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1973. Politics: "Liberal Democrat." Religion: Church of England (Anglican). Hobbies and other interests: Fine art, reading, cycling, following soccer. Freelance designer, 1973-87, including work with Madame Tussaud's Group, London, England. Part-time te…
1916-2005 Author, educator, social critic When The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual was first released, it was hailed as a revolutionary work, and its author, Harold Cruse, as one of the great philosophers of the Black Arts Movement (BAM). Cruse, however, felt little connection with the various artists, philosophers, and writers of BAM. The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual, in fact, blasted the ma…
Born 1946, in Cascade, ID; Education: Eastern Washington State College (now University), B.A., 1968; received teaching certificate, 1970. Politics: Independent. Agent—Liz Darhansoff, 1220 Park Ave., New York, NY 10028. Writer, therapist, teacher, and child advocacy worker. Kennewick Dropout School, Kennewick, WA, teacher of high school dropouts, 1970-73; Lakeside School, Oakland, CA, teach…
1947– Newspaper president, publisher Crutchfield, James N., photograph. Reproduced by permission of James Crutchfield. James N. Crutchfield is president and publisher of the award-winning Akron Beacon Journal newspaper. The publication is well known for its in-depth reporting and is the oldest continuously operated business in Summit County, Ohio. It circulates in a five county area and has…
Although the Cuban-born music known as salsa, like other forms of Latin jazz and dance music, has been primarily male-dominated, its biggest vocal star is female. Celia Cruz has a powerful voice that transfers the rhythmic energy of salsa into the vocal medium, and she has been a prominent figure in the music since the beginnings of her career in Cuba in the 1950s. Leaving Cuba for the United Stat…
Victor Hernández Cruz: 1949—: Poet, essayist. Victor Hernández Cruz is an important modern poet in both of the localities where he has divided his time: Puerto Rico and New York. One of the founders of the Nuyorican (New York-Puerto Rican) cultural movement in the 1960s, he has, in the words of the 2002 Griffin Poetry Prize committee, "long been the defining poet of…
Born 1947, in Long Island, NY; Education: New York University, B.F.A. (television and film direction), 1970; also attended Marshall University and Nassau Community College. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Playing softball and tennis, cooking Japanese food, collecting New York Yankees memorabilia and miniature furniture, gardening, attending baseball and basketball games. Office …
Born 1957, in Boston, MA; present surname, Peters) Cuetara; Education: School of the Museum of Fine Art, Boston, B.F.A., 1985. Agent— Julie Popkin, 15340 Albright St., Suite 204, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Freelance illustrator in Boston, MA, and San Francisco, CA, 1985-90; founder, art director, and principal illustrator at a greeting card company, San Francisco, 1990-93; writer and ill…
Xavier Cugat: 1900-1990: Musician, bandleader. Xavier Cugat, best known for his "percolating dance numbers [that] swept the country like tropical fever during the 1930s and '40s," according to Time magazine, played and conducted in some of America's most famous nightspots, including New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and Los Angeles's Coconut Grove. A cl…
1924(?)-2003 Advertising executive When Vince Cullers began knocking on the doors of advertising agencies in the late 1940s, he had a thick portfolio, experience as an artist, and training from the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. He was young, eager, and talented. He was also black. "He made the rounds of the ad agencies in Chicago, and what he ran into was that they did not hire blac…
Born 1951, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada; Education: Wilfrid Laurier University, B.A., 1972; McGill University, diploma in education, 1976; University of Guelph, M.A., 1992; University of Western Ontario, Ph.D., 2002. Office—York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada. Actor and director with Youtheatre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and of Village Theatre and Real Canadia…
Born 1951, in Ludlow, MA; Education: University of New Hampshire, B.A. (English literature), 1973. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, playing piano, taking walks. Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, Holyoke, MA, newspaper reporter, 1973–75; Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, newspaper reporter, 1975–76; Richmond News Leader, Richmond, VA, newspaper reporter, 1976–82; magazine editor …
Nationality: American. Born: Ohio, 1952. Education: Attended Stanford University; University of Iowa, M.F.A. Career: Worked for Carnegie Corp., New York, beginning in 1986. Awards: Pulitzer prize, 1999. Recent critical praise for Michael Cunningham's novel The Hours, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1999, came as no surprise to those who followed his progression since the publication of A Ho…
Education: Graduated from University of Michigan. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Dial Press, Dell Publishing, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. Photojournalist and author. Big Sister, Little Sister, Dial Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2000. I Was So Silly!: Big Kids Remember Being Little, Dial Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2002. Big Brother, Little Brother, Dial Books for Young…
Born 1953, in Springfield, OH. Education: Attended Paier School of Art, 1971-75. Hobbies and other interests: Cooking, kayaking, reading. Agent—c/o HarperCollins Children's Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Doug Cushman Apprentice to book illustrator Mercer Mayer, 1975-77; writer and illustrator, 1977—. Instructor at Paier College of Art, 1980, an…
Born 1936, in New York, NY; Education: Northwestern University, B.A. (English), 1958; San Francisco State University, M.A. (creative writing), 1982. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, swimming, hiking, theater, art, music. Agent—Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, 1501 Broadway, Ste. 2310, New York, NY 10036. Writer, editor, and writing teacher. Authors Guild, Authors League…
(Daisy Wallace) Born 1948, in Princeton, NJ; Education: Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., 1970. Atlantic Monthly Press, Boston, MA, assistant to editor of children's books, 1970-71; Walker & Co., New York, NY, editor of children's books, 1972-74; Holiday House, New York, NY, vice president and editor-in-chief of children's books, 1974-95; Henry Holt & Co., New York, …
Deezer D, photograph. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images. 1965- Actor, musician Best known for his role as nurse Malik McGrath on the popular television show ER, Deezer D transformed himself almost overnight from a gang member and alcoholic to a dedicated, clean-living Christian. His conversion included a movement towards the Christian rap music industry that culminated in an album with a strong message …
Nationality: English. Born: London, England, 1960. Education: University of Kent at Canterbury, B.A. 1985. Career: Trained and worked as a psychiatric nurse; visiting fellow, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, 1989-90; visiting writer, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, 1992-94; assistant professor of English, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, 1994-95; professor of English, University o…
1960— Writer Poet, playwright, and novelist Fred D'Aguiar prefers to be described simply as a writer. He was born in London but grew up in Guyana and belongs to a second generation of Caribbean-British writers. His work is often highly politicized, addressing a sense of divided or dual identity. In his early poetry in particular D'Aguiar attempts to reconcile his early experie…
Nationality: Australian. Born: Sydney, 1944. Education: Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School. Career: Journalist, president of the Australian Capital Territory branch of the Oral History Association of Australia. Awards: PEN Sydney Centre Golden Jubilee award for literature, 1981; Age Book of the Year award, 1981, for Turtle Beach; South Australian Government award for literature,…
children: Olivia. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Arthur Levine Books, Scholastic, Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Children's book author and freelance writer. Washington State Book Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal, Child magazine Best Book of the Year award, and Book Sense pick, all 2004, and Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Association Book Award, 2005, all for Ella the…
children: Olivia. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Arthur Levine Books, Scholastic, Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Children's book illustrator. Washington State Book Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal, Child magazine Best Book of the Year award, and Book Sense pick, all 2004, and Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Association Book Award, 2005, all for Ella the Elegant Elephan…
Born 1954, in Valetta, Malta; Hobbies and other interests: Playing electric guitar, writing songs. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Scholastic, Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Writer; Leicester University, Leicester, England, began as histologist, 1978, currently confocal microscopist. Carnegie Medal nomination, 1999, for Fly Cherokee Fly; Rotherham Children's Book Award, for The Fire…
Nationality: Guyanian and British (immigrated to Britain, 1969). Born: Berbice, Guyana, 1956. Education: Cambridge University, 1974-78, B.A. (honours) in English 1978; London University, Ph.D. 1982. Career: Director, Centre for Caribbean Studies, University of Warwick. Awards: Cambridge University Quiller-Couch prize, 1978; Commonwealth Poetry prize, 1984; Guyana Literature prize, 1991. Agent: Cur…
1956— Poet, novelist, and critic Award-winning poet, novelist, and critic David Dabydeen writes about his native Guyana and the experiences of colonialism and migration. He makes particular use of Guyanese Creole, a dialect that blends African, French, Spanish, and Indian languages with English and contributes a great deal to the rhythms, rhymes, and emotional power of his work. The languag…
Born 1971, in England. Education: Kent University, B.A. (history); M.A. (writing for Hobbies and other interests: Walking with her dog, conservation work, swimming. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Bloomsbury Publishing, 36 Soho Square, London W1D 3QY, England. Novelist. Works part time at a bookshop. Carnegie Medal longlist inclusion, 2004, for Whispering to Witches. Whispering to Witches, Bloomsbur…
Born 1954, in London, England; Education: Attended Bristol Polytechnic, 1972-73; Exeter College of Art and Design, B.A., 1977. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, swimming, entertaining, books, and art. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Candlewick Press, 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140. Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist, 1988, for Wake Up, Mr. B!, and 1990, for Rosie's Babies; Bes…
Born 1959, in Worcester, MA; Education: Dartmouth College, B.A. (English), 1981. Hobbies and other interests: Tinkering and construction, Scottish dancing, wine making, renewable energy, citizen activism. Writer and educator. Grocery manager, c. early 1980s; yarn mill spinning fram operator, mid-1980s–1991; Great New England Energy Show, coordinator, 1989–94, publisher, 1995–9…
(Nicholas Daly) Born 1946, in Cape Town, South Africa; Education: Cape Town Technikon, diploma, 1970. Agent—Laura Cecil, 17 Alwyne Villas, London N1 2HG, England. CBS Record Company, London, England, singer and songwriter, 1971–73; junior art director for advertising agencies in Cape Town, South Africa and London, 1973–75; freelance illustrator, 1975–79; East Ham Techni…
Salvador Dalí: 1904—1989: Artist. Surrealism was a European artistic movement that extended into film, fiction, poetry, and other arts in addition to its primary medium of painting. Nevertheless, in the public mind surrealism is identified above all with one towering figure: the Spanish painter Salvador Dalí. With a series of dreamlike works executed in the late 1920s and …
Alicia Alonso: 1921—: Dancer, choreographer, ballet director, dance instructor. Cuba is known for Castro, Cuban cigars, and communism. But thanks to the tenacity and talent of Alicia Alonso, it is also a world-renowned center for ballet. When Alonso was born in the early 1920s there was no ballet school or professional company in Cuba. Instead she traveled to New York City, Russia, Spai…
Born 1949, in Atlanta, GA; Education: University of Georgia, B.S. (education), 1971, M.S. (education), 1977. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and other interests: Photography, hiking, travel, studying Italian. Formerly worked as a special-education teacher, editor and staff writer for educational publishers, New York, NY, beginning c. 1989; freelance writer. MFA Boston. Honorable mention, Jane Chambers…
1915-1986 Poet Poet Margaret Esse Danner's vivid imagery and uplifting poetic voice most often focused on Africa. Although she wrote on a wide range of themes, it is likely that her African poems will be the most enduring of her work. Author of four compilations and contributor to numerous anthologies, Danner published the bulk of her poetry during the Black Arts Movements of the 1960s. Mar…
Nationality: American. Born: Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 19 January1969. Education: Barnard College, 1990; Brown University, M.F.A. 1993. Career: Freelance writer, 1994—. (2000) At the end of most readings and lectures, a writer is often asked, "How much of your work is autobiographical?" The writer's reaction to that question varies, depending on the subject of the work. I…
OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born August 18, 1944, in Washington, DC; died of complications after a heart attack July 8, 2004, in New York, NY. Educator and author. Danziger was a bestselling author of award-winning young adult novels. Resisting her mother's attempt to make her a nurse, she instead studied to be a teacher at Montclair State College, where she earned a d…
Born 1944, in Washington, DC; Education: Montclair State College, B.A., 1967, M.A. Agent—Donald C. Farber, 99 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. Substitute teacher, Edison, NJ, 1967; Title I teacher, Highland Park, NJ, 1967-1968; junior-high school English teacher, Edison, NJ, 1968-1970; English teacher, Lincoln Junior High School, West Orange, NJ, 1977-1978; full-time writer, 1978—. Wor…
1982— Model Darego, Agbani, photograph. Yoav Lemmer/AFP/Getty Images. Nigeria's Agbani Darego was crowned Miss World in 2001, making her the first black woman from an African country ever to win the pageant. Darego spent much of her Miss World year making public appearances around the globe and serving as an unofficial ambassador for her country, and even her continent. …
Born 1955, in Detroit, MI; Education: University of Michigan School of Art and Design, B.F.A., 1978. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, music ("I'm a closet clarinetist"), gardening. Office—210 Abbott Rd., Studio 40, East Lansing, MI 48823. Artist, illustrator, and calligrapher, 1981—. Part-time faculty member, Lansing Community College, 1981—. Designe…
1944— Journalist Dash, Leon, photograph. Brian Johnson, Department of Journalism, University of Illinois Leon Dash won American journalism's top honor, a Pulitzer Prize, for his 1994 series about a District of Columbia grandmother and her family, "Rosa Lee's Story." The series appeared in the Washington Post, where Dash had been an investigative reporter f…
1934— Novelist, poet, critic, professor Dathorne, O.R., Photograph. Courtesy of O.R. Dathorne. Reproduced by permission. Author and educator O.R. Dathorne earned an international reputation for his work exploring and illuminating the experience of colonized cultures. Born and raised in the complex and diverse society of colonial Guyana, Dathorne was quite young when he began to learn…
Born 1960, in San Francisco, CA; Education: San Francisco State University, B.A., 1990; University of Connecticut, M.A., 1991, Ph.D., 1999. Hobbies and other interests: Archery, fishing. Social studies and language arts teacher at St. Raymond Elementary School, Menlo Park, CA, 1997-02, and Corte Madera Middle School, Portola Valley, CA, beginning 2002. Military service: U.S. Army, 1978-82. America…