Lorenz Bell Graham
Lorenz Bell Graham was a significant figure in African American literature, renowned for his authentic depictions of Black characters and their experiences. Born in New Orleans in 1902, Graham's upbringing was marked by frequent relocations due to his father's work as an African Methodist Episcopal minister. He attended several universities, ultimately earning a degree in social studies, and spent time teaching in Liberia, which profoundly influenced his literary career. His early works, including "How God Fix Jonah" and "Tales of Momolu," sought to portray the realities of African life, countering what he viewed as unrealistic representations.
Graham's writing often focused on young African American characters navigating the complexities of racial and social justice, addressing issues that affected both rural and urban communities. His novels, written during the Harlem Renaissance, highlighted the shared humanity of African and African American youths. Throughout his life, Graham remained active in civil rights and humanitarian efforts alongside his wife, who was also a children's author. He received recognition for his contributions to literature, including an honorary degree and the Coretta Scott King Award. Graham passed away in 1989, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate in discussions of race and identity in literature.
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Lorenz Bell Graham
Fiction Writer
- Born: January 27, 1902
- Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Died: September 11, 1989
- Place of death: West Covina, California
Biography
Lorenz Bell Graham, who has been called the dean of African American literature for his realistic portrayal of black characters, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1902. His father, David Andrew Graham, was an African Methodist Episcopal minister, and his mother was Elizabeth Etta Belle Graham. Graham’s father regularly was assigned to different parishes, and the family lived in several states when Graham was growing up. Graham attended high school in Seattle, Washington, and then went to the University of Washington in 1921 and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), from 1923 to 1924. He dropped out in his junior year to move to Monrovia, Liberia, where he taught at a mission school. He later completed an undergraduate degree in social studies at Virginia Union University in Richmond and pursued graduate studies at New York University and UCLA
While in Liberia, he met Ruth Morris, a missionary who, like Graham, was teaching at Monrovia College. When they returned to the United States, they married in 1929, and they later had five children. Graham’s interest in Africa had been stirred in his youth by what he believed were the unrealistic portrayals of Africa and its people. He believed someone should describe the reality of African life and people, and this belief inspired him to become a writer.
Graham wrote books for young adults. His first books were How God Fix Jonah, a collection of Bible stories told in the Liberian dialect, and Tales of Momolu, set in Africa. The foreword of How God Fix Jonah was written by W. E. B. Du Bois, who had married Graham’s sister, Shirley; Du Bois was a noted civil rights activist and author. Some of Graham’s later novels were set in the United States and dealt with African American youths. All of his books deal with the theme of racial and social justice, either in Africa or the United States. Graham wrote about young people, emphasizing that African and African American youths were no different than any other children. His novels feature black characters living in rural areas and urban slums, and Graham traces their lives from youth to adulthood, describing how their lives were impacted by racism.
Graham began his writing career during the Harlem Renaissance and like many other African American writers of the period, both he and his wife, who also wrote several children’s books, were active in humanitarian and civil rights activities. He received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in 1983 from Virginia Union University and the Coretta Scott King Award for his book Every Man Heart Lay Down. Graham died in 1989.