Charlie L. Russell facts for kids

Charlie Louis Russell, Jr. (born March 10, 1932 – died June 28, 2013) was an American writer. He is most famous for his play, Five on the Black Hand Side, which later became a popular movie.

Early Life and Education

Charlie L. Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana, on March 10, 1932. He was the older of two children. His parents were Charlie Sr. and Katie Russell.

Moving to California

In 1942, when Charlie was about 10 years old, his father moved to Oakland, California. His father worked there in a shipyard. About a year later, the rest of the family joined him in Oakland.

School Days

Charlie and his younger brother, Bill Russell, went to school in Oakland. Bill Russell later became a famous basketball player. Charlie graduated from Oakland Technical High School. He became interested in writing when he was a student at Santa Rosa Junior College.

College and Service

After college, Charlie served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. When he returned, he studied at the University of San Francisco. He earned a degree in English in 1959. While there, he also played on the university's basketball team, the Dons, in the 1956–57 and 1957–58 seasons.

Writing Career

Charlie L. Russell became a member of the Harlem Writers Guild. This was a group of African-American writers.

His Famous Play and Film

Russell wrote a play called Five on the Black Hand Side. It was first performed in January 1970. Later, he turned his play into a movie. The movie was released in 1973. Even though it wasn't a huge hit at the box office, many people loved the film. It became very popular over time. The movie even won an NAACP Image Award for its script. Ebony magazine also named it one of the top 10 African-American films ever.

Working at the National Black Theatre

In the early 1970s, Russell worked at the National Black Theatre (NBT) in Harlem. He was a "writer in residence" there, which means he was a writer who worked closely with the theater. At the NBT, he helped write a play called Organize! with Barbara Ann Teer.

Other Works

Charlie Russell wrote many other stories and plays.

• He wrote a short novel called A Birthday Present for Katheryn Kenyatta.
• He also wrote a short story called "Quietus." This story was published in a collection by the famous writer Langston Hughes.
• His play Relaxin' at Camarillo was about the life of a famous musician named Charlie Parker.
• Other plays he wrote included The Incident at Terminal Ecstasy Acres and In White America.
• His novel The Worthy Ones was published in 2002.

Later Life

Charlie L. Russell was married twice and had one child from each marriage. He lived in Oakland, California, for most of his life. He passed away on June 28, 2013, after battling gastric cancer.