James Alan McPherson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Alan McPherson
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| Born | September 16, 1943 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | July 27, 2016 (aged 72) Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Morgan State University Morris Brown College Harvard Law School University of Iowa |
| Period | 1968–2016 |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Notable works | Elbow Room |
| Notable awards | Pulitzer Prize in Fiction MacArthur Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowship |
| Spouse | Sarah Lynn Charlton (div.) |
| Children | Rachel (daughter); Benjamin (son) |
James Alan McPherson (born September 16, 1943 – died July 27, 2016) was an American writer. He wrote essays and short stories. He made history as the first African-American writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. This is a very important award for writers. He was also one of the first people to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. This award is sometimes called a "genius grant." At the time of his death, McPherson was a professor at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He taught others how to write fiction.
Contents
His Life and Work
Early Life and Education
James Alan McPherson was born in Savannah, Georgia, on September 16, 1943. He was the second of four children. His father was a skilled electrician. His mother, Mabel Small, worked as a maid.
Growing up, his family faced difficult times. James took on many different jobs to help his mother, brother, and sisters. He wrote about these experiences in his essay "Going Up To Atlanta."
A big change happened when he found the "colored branch" of the public library. When he started reading, he learned that words could tell amazing stories. He realized that books "spoke of other worlds." They also showed him that pain was a part of many people's lives.
He went to Morgan State University from 1963 to 1964. Then, he earned his degree in history and English from Morris Brown College in 1965. In 1968, McPherson earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. He helped pay for his studies by working as a janitor.
While at Harvard, McPherson also studied fiction writing. He worked on his stories whenever he had free time. His short story "Gold Coast" was published in The Atlantic Monthly. This happened after he won a writing competition. This was his first public recognition.
He became close with Edward Weeks, an editor at The Atlantic Monthly. This led to McPherson becoming an editor there in 1969. His stories appeared in many magazines over the next ten years. Many of his stories were also put into collections. His first collection of short stories, Hue and Cry, came out in 1969.
In 1971, he earned a master's degree in fiction from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He decided not to practice law. However, he still used his legal knowledge in his writing. For example, he wrote an essay in 1972 about unfair business practices. These practices affected black homeowners.
During this time, he became friends with the famous writer Ralph Ellison. Ellison became a mentor to McPherson. In 1970, McPherson interviewed Ellison for The Atlantic Monthly. This friendship greatly influenced McPherson's own life and writing. He wrote an essay called "Gravitas" in 1999. It was a tribute to Ellison.
A Career in Writing and Teaching
McPherson taught English and creative writing at several universities. He taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz (1969–1971). He also taught at Harvard University (1972) and Morgan State University (1975–1976). From 1976 to 1981, he was an associate professor at the University of Virginia.
In 1981, he joined the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He stayed there for the rest of his life. He even served as the acting director of the program for two years. This was after the death of Frank Conroy in 2005.
After his last collection of fiction, Elbow Room, was published in 1977, McPherson mostly focused on teaching. He was known for being a private person.
He was also a visiting scholar at Yale Law School (1978–1979). He was a fellow at Stanford University's Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. McPherson also gave lectures in Japan. He was deeply affected by Japanese society and culture. He once wrote that in Japan, he felt he could put down "the burden carried by all black Americans." This meant he found a sense of peace there.
His first original book since Elbow Room was Crabcakes: A Memoir, published in 1998. His last book, A Region Not Home: Reflections on Exile, was an essay collection. It came out in 2000.
Awards and Honors
In 1972, McPherson received a Guggenheim Fellowship. This award helps people in the arts and sciences.
He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1978 for his short story collection Elbow Room. This made him the first black writer to win the Fiction Prize.
In 1981, he received a MacArthur Fellowship. He was part of the very first group of people to get this award. It is often called a "genius grant."
In 1995, McPherson became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2000, his short story "Gold Coast" was chosen by John Updike for a special collection. It was called Best American Short Stories of the Century.
In 2011, McPherson received the first Paul Engle Award. This award is from the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature. In 2020, a park in Iowa City was renovated and renamed after him. It is now called James Alan McPherson Park. It serves as a memorial and a gathering place.
His Legacy
James Alan McPherson passed away in Iowa City, Iowa, on July 27, 2016. He was 72 years old. He died due to problems from pneumonia. He is remembered by his daughter, Rachel McPherson, and his son, Benjamin Miyamoto. He is also survived by a sister and a brother.
Works
Nonfiction
- Railroad: Trains and Train People in American Culture, edited with Miller Williams; (New York: Random House, 1976); ISBN: 0394732375
- Confronting Racial Difference, edited with DeWitt Henry; Ploughshares Vol. 16, Nos 2 & 3 (Fall 1990); ISBN: 0933277946
- Fathering Daughters: Reflections by Men, edited with DeWitt Henry; (Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1998); ISBN: 9780807062197
- Crabcakes: A Memoir (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998); ISBN: 0684834650
- A Region Not Home: Reflections on Exile (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000); ISBN: 9780684834641
- On Becoming an American Writer: Essays & Nonfiction, selected and introduced by Anthony Walton (Boston, MA: Godine, 2023); ISBN 9781567927481
Fiction
