Diane Oliver facts for kids
Diane Oliver (born July 28, 1943 – died May 1966) was an important American writer. She was also a Black feminist, meaning she believed in equal rights for women. Diane wrote stories about her own life. These stories showed what it was like growing up in a Black middle-class family in Charlotte, North Carolina during the 1940s and 1950s.
Early Life and Learning
Diane Oliver was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 28, 1943. Her father, William Oliver, was a schoolteacher. Her mother, Blanche Rann, taught piano. Diane went to schools in Charlotte that were only for Black students at that time.
She finished West Charlotte High School in 1960. Then, she went to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This university was known as Woman's College back then. She graduated from there in 1964. In 1965, Diane went on to study writing at the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop. This was a very famous program for writers.
Her Published Stories
Diane Oliver wrote several short stories. Four of her stories were published while she was alive. Two more were published after she passed away.
Some of her stories appeared in a magazine called The Sewanee Review. These included "Key to the City" and "Neighbors" in 1966. Other stories were published in Negro Digest. These were "Health Service" (November 1965), "Traffic Jam" (July 1966), and "Mint Juleps Not Served Here" (March 1967). Her story "The Closet on the Top Floor" was part of a collection of fiction in 1966.
Her Passing
Diane Oliver died in a car accident in May 1966. This happened in Iowa City, Iowa. The University of Iowa honored her by giving her a Master of Fine Arts degree. They gave her this degree after she passed away, on May 21, 1966.
