Ishmael Reed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ishmael Reed
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Reed in 2019
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| Born | Ishmael Scott Reed February 22, 1938 Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Education | University of Buffalo |
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| Spouse | Priscilla Thompson (m. 1960; divorced) Carla Blank
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 2 |
Ishmael Scott Reed (born February 22, 1938) is an American writer known for his funny and sharp stories that question common ideas about American culture. He writes many different things, like poems, novels, essays, songs, and plays.
One of his most famous books is Mumbo Jumbo (1972). It's a big, unusual novel set in New York City in the 1920s. Reed's writing often shares stories and viewpoints from African and African-American people that might have been overlooked. He also supports all kinds of people and their unique perspectives.
Contents
Life and Early Career
Ishmael Reed was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. When he was a child, his family moved to Buffalo, New York. This move was part of a big event called the Great Migration, when many African Americans moved from the Southern U.S. to the North.
Reed went to the University at Buffalo. He left college before finishing because he wanted to try new things with his writing and music. He later received an honorary doctorate from the university in 1995.
Reed has said that poets influenced him more than novelists. He admired poets from the Harlem Renaissance, like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.
In 1962, Reed moved to New York City. There, he helped start a well-known underground newspaper called East Village Other. He also joined a group of writers called the Umbra Writers Workshop. Even though he didn't join the Black Arts Movement, he kept studying the history of black Americans.
Teaching and Family Life
In 1970, Reed moved to the West Coast and started teaching at the University of California, Berkeley. He taught there for 35 years! After retiring in 2005, he became a special professor at the California College of the Arts. He lives in Oakland, California, with his wife, Carla Blank, who is also a writer and artist. They have been married for over 50 years.
Reed's mother was a strong person who fought for what was right. She even organized strikes to help black women get better jobs. Reed married Priscilla Thompson in 1960, and they had a daughter named Timothy. They later divorced in 1970. Since then, he has been married to Carla Blank, and they have a daughter named Tennessee, who is also an author.
Published Works and Writing Style
Ishmael Reed has written many books, including 12 novels. Some of his novels are Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down (1969), Mumbo Jumbo (1972), and Japanese by Spring (1993). He has also published seven collections of poetry and 11 collections of essays.
He has written plays, too. His ninth play, The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda, was first performed in 2019. Reed also writes nonfiction books and short stories. He has edited many collections of writings by different authors, including POW WOW, which brings together stories from many different American cultures.
Reed's writing often challenges ideas and makes people think. He likes to mix things up and use different cultures and languages in his stories to show a more realistic picture of America. For example, his novel Conjugating Hindi explores how African-American and South Asian American cultures connect.
Music and Collaborations
Ishmael Reed is also very involved in music. Many musicians have used his words and lyrics in their songs, including famous artists like Taj Mahal and Gregory Porter.
He has worked on special music projects called Conjure, where his texts are set to music. He even plays jazz piano himself! In 2007, he released his first album as a jazz pianist and bandleader. He was honored as Blues Songwriter of the Year in 2008.
Reed has also helped other writers get their start. He founded the Ishmael Reed Publishing Company and an online magazine called Konch Magazine, which shares poetry, essays, and stories from around the world. He has helped many students he taught become published writers.
Awards and Recognition
Ishmael Reed has received many important awards for his writing. Two of his books, Conjure (poetry) and Mumbo Jumbo (novel), were nominated for National Book Awards in 1973. Conjure was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
His poems and novels have been translated into many languages, showing how his work is appreciated worldwide. In 1998, he received a special award called the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, sometimes called a "genius" grant. He has also received lifetime achievement awards for his contributions to literature.
Before Columbus Foundation
Ishmael Reed started the Before Columbus Foundation. This group gives out the American Book Awards every year, which celebrate diverse voices in American literature. He also founded the PEN Oakland chapter, which gives awards to writers.
Images for kids
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Bob Callahan, Reed, Carla Blank, Shawn Wong in 1975
