Herbert Simmons facts for kids
Herbert Alfred Simmons (born March 29, 1930 – died August 18, 2008) was an American writer. He wrote two important novels. These books showed what life was like for young Black men in the 1950s.
Contents
About Herbert Simmons
His Early Life and Education
Herbert Alfred Simmons was born in St. Louis, Missouri. This happened on March 29, 1930. He went to Lincoln University in Missouri. There, he studied journalism. He paused his studies to serve in the military. After that, he went to Washington University in St. Louis. He earned a degree in English Composition there.
His Books and Writing
In 1957, his first novel was published. It was called Corner Boy. Simmons won an award for this book. It was called a Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship. The book became very popular. It sold well for many years. His second novel came out in 1962. It was titled Man Walking on Eggshells. He did not publish much new material after 1962. However, his two novels have been printed again many times.
Helping Other Writers
In 1965, there were big events called the Watts riots in Los Angeles. After these events, the Watts Writers Workshop was created. Simmons was an important person in this group. Later, he became a teacher. He taught at California State University, Northridge. He retired from teaching in the mid-1990s.
Later Life
In 1979, his novel Corner Boy was made into a play. Herbert Simmons passed away on August 18, 2008. He was 78 years old.
What His Novels Were About
Simmons' two novels paint a clear picture. They show life in Black neighborhoods. This was before the civil rights movement began. The main characters are young Black men. They are often choosing between a career in music and life on the streets. The way Simmons wrote was special. People have compared his writing to Bebop and Cool Jazz music. Especially in Man Walking on Eggshells, the writing has a strong rhythm. It follows the patterns of jazz music.
