Willard Motley
Willard Motley was an American author born on July 14, 1909, in Chicago, Illinois. Raised by his grandparents in a middle-class Roman Catholic household, Motley initially experienced a sheltered upbringing, but his perspective broadened significantly during his high school years when he encountered diverse communities. His literary journey began during the Great Depression, leading him to explore various odd jobs and ultimately to a vibrant writing career.
Motley's first novel, *Knock on Any Door*, gained critical acclaim for its powerful narrative about the impact of crime and poverty on youth, encapsulated in the life of Nick Romano, a young man whose circumstances lead him down a dark path. Through his subsequent works, including *We Fished All Night* and *Let No Man Write My Epitaph*, he continued to tackle complex social and political issues, often featuring a racially diverse cast of characters. In 1951, Motley moved to Mexico, where he adopted two sons and continued to write, producing his final work, *Let Noon Be Fair*, which critiques the exploitation of a Mexican fishing village by American tourists. He passed away on March 4, 1965, in Mexico City, leaving behind a legacy of "raceless novels" that addressed universal human struggles, highlighting his unique ability to transcend racial boundaries in literature.
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Willard Motley
American novelist and cofounder of Hull-House Magazine.
- Born: July 14, 1909
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: March 4, 1965
- Place of death: Mexico City, Mexico
Biography
Willard Motley was born on July 14, 1909, in Chicago, Illinois. As a child, Motley believed his mother, Florence, was his older sister and his grandparents were his parents. His grandfather, Archibald John Motley, was a Pullman porter on a train that traveled between Chicago and New York. His grandmother, Mary Frederica Huff Motley, was a housewife who instilled a strong sense of social consciousness and responsibility within him. Florence left Motley to be raised by his grandparents and uncle, Archibald, Jr., a successful painter who sparked Motley’s interest in the arts.
Motley grew up in a middle-class Roman Catholic household. His family was the only African American family in the neighborhood, and for this reason it was not seen as a threat. Motley did not experience much racism as a child; his grandfather had taught him to accept the good whites and ignore the bad. It was not until entering Englewood High School that Motley came into contact with people from different races, an experience that came as a cultural shock. Motley excelled in school, participated in sports, and wrote for the school newspaper and yearbook. His plans to attend college were thwarted by the Depression.
Unemployed, Motley bicycled to New York to acquire material for his writing. He also made two trips by car to the West Coast, working odd jobs and spending time in jail for vagrancy. When he returned to Chicago, he became part of the literary Hull House, were he cofounded the Hull-House Magazine. Motley also was employed with the Works Progress Administration’s (WPA) Federal Writers’ Project.
Motley’s first novel, Knock on Any Door, was highly acclaimed and followed the life of Nick Romano, an altar boy turned murderer. Nick’s family loses everything during the Depression, and Nick turns to a life of petty crime to survive. After serving brief prison sentences, he is released to a reform school, where he interacts with criminals. Nick continues a life of crime culminating with the murder of a police officer, which results in his conviction and death in the electric chair. The novel examines how the lives of young people who live in housing projects are shaped by crime and poverty, criticizing how society and its institutions treat these disadvantaged young people. Motley’s other novels, We Fished All Night and Let No Man Write My Epitaph, also examined political and social issues and featured characters of all races.
In 1951, Motley relocated to a town twelve miles outside of Mexico City, where he would spend the rest of his life. While there he adopted two sons, Sergio and Raul. He completed his final novel, Let Noon Be Fair, two weeks before his death. The novel provides a harsh look at the exploitation of a Mexican fishing village by tourists, mostly Americans.
Motley died of intestinal gangrene in Mexico City on March 4, 1965. He has been praised for writing "raceless novels" about the struggles common to all individuals. His ability to look past race and explore societal problems that affect everyone is his greatest contribution to literature.
Author Works
Long Fiction:
Knock on Any Door, 1947
We Fished All Night, 1951
Let No Man Write My Epitaph, 1958
Let Noon Be Fair, 1966
Bibliography
Fleming, Robert. E. Willard Motley. Twayne, 1978. A standard biography of Motley.
Granger, Bill. "Willard Motley." Chicago Tribune, 26 June 1994, articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-06-26/features/9406260209‗1‗black-kids-chicago-post-chicago-defender. Accessed 15 June 2017. Discusses Motley's life and works, arguing that he deserves greater consideration as an important writer.
Kogan, Rick. "Remembering Forgotten Writer Willard Motley." Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2015, www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-remembering-willard-motley-20150402-story.html. Accessed 15 June 2017. Profiles the writer as a forgotten but important contributor to American literature, and Chicago culture in particular, based on Kogan's personal recollections.
Pitts, Vanessa. "Motley, Willard (1909–1965)." BlackPast.org, 2017, www.blackpast.org/aah/motley-willard-1909-1965. Accessed 15 June 2017.
Wald, Alan. "Willard Motley." Writers of the Black Chicago Renaissance. U of Illinois P, 2011. Gives an overview of Motley's life and career.
"Willard Motley Collection at NIU." Northern Illinois University Libraries, 15 June 2017, http://libguides.niu.edu/rarebooks/motley#sthash.mtXQOdUa.dpuf. Accessed 15 June 2017. Provides a biographic overview and descriptions and analysis of Motley's major works.