Gerald Early facts for kids

Gerald Lyn Early, born on April 21, 1952, is a well-known American writer and expert on American culture. He is a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches about English, African studies, and American culture.

Professor Early has also worked as a consultant for famous Ken Burns documentary films. These films include Baseball, Jazz, Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, The War, and Muhammad Ali. He often shares his thoughts on the radio show Fresh Air on NPR.

His essays have appeared in many editions of The Best American Essays series. He writes about a wide range of topics. These include American literature, the Korean War, African-American culture, and non-fiction writing. He also writes about baseball, jazz, prizefighting, Motown music, Miles Davis, Muhammad Ali, and Sammy Davis Jr.. In 2024, he became a member of the American Philosophical Society.

Early Life and Education

Gerald Early was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1952. His father, Henry Early, was a baker who passed away when Gerald was very young. His mother, Florence Fernandez Oglesby, was a preschool teacher. She raised Gerald and his two sisters by herself.

Growing up in a less wealthy part of Philadelphia, Gerald became friends with members of local gangs. However, he chose to focus on his studies instead of joining them. He worked hard in school and graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974.

College Years and Early Career

During his time at college, Gerald Early discovered the writings of Amiri Baraka. Baraka was a poet and playwright who greatly influenced Early's own writing style. Early also improved his writing skills by working for the university newspaper. One of his first important articles was about a family member who was sadly killed in a gang-related incident.

After earning his first degree, Early stayed in Philadelphia. He worked for the city government for a while. He also spent six months helping to monitor gang activities. Later, he went back to school at Cornell University. He earned his doctorate degree in English literature in 1982.

Becoming a Professor

Gerald Early began his teaching career in 1982. His first job was as an assistant professor of black studies at Washington University in St. Louis. He quickly became a full professor by 1990. He taught in both the English department and the African and Afro-American studies departments.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Gerald Early has received many awards for his writing and contributions.

• In 1988, he won a Whiting Award for his creative non-fiction writing.
• His collection of essays, The Culture of Bruising: Essays on Prizefighting, Literature, and Modern American Culture, won the 1994 National Book Critics Circle Award.
• He has been nominated twice for a Grammy Award for Best Album Notes. These nominations were in 2001 for Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis Jr. Story and in 2002 for Rhapsodies in Black: Music and Words From The Harlem Renaissance.
• In 2007, Washington University honored him by revealing a portrait of him. This painting hangs in the Olin Library at the university.
• In 2013, Gerald Early was added to the St. Louis Walk of Fame. This honor recognizes people who have made important contributions to the St. Louis area.
• In 2022, a street in Park Forest, Illinois, was renamed Early Street in his honor. This was done to celebrate the diverse history of the village.

Published Works

Gerald Early has written many books and essay collections. Some of his notable works include:

• Tuxedo Junction: Essays on American Culture (1989)
• Life with Daughters:Watching the Miss America Pageant (1990)
• The Culture of Bruising: Essays on Prizefighting, Literature, and Modern American Culture (1994)
• Daughters: On Family and Fatherhood (1994) (a memoir about his family)
• One Nation Under a Groove: Motown & American Culture (1994) (a music history book)
• How the War in the Streets Is Won: Poems on the Quest of Love and Faith (1995) (a collection of poetry)
• Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis Jr. Story (2001) (nominated for a Grammy Award)
• Rhapsodies in Black: Music and Words From the Harlem Renaissance (2002) (nominated for a Grammy Award)

Books He Has Edited

Professor Early has also edited many important books, bringing together writings from different authors. Some of these include:

• Lure and Loathing: Essays on Race, Identity and the Ambivalence of Assimilation (1993)
• Ain't But a Place: An Anthology of African American Writings About St. Louis (1998)
• Body Language: Writers on Sport (1998)
• The Muhammad Ali Reader (1998)
• Miles Davis and American Culture (2001)
• The Sammy Davis, Jr. Reader (2001)
• Black America in the 1960s (2003)
• My Soul's High Song: The Collected Writings of Countee Cullen (1991)
• Speech and Power: The African-American Essay in Its Cultural Content (1993)