John A. Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John A. Williams
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Williams in 1962 (photo by Carl van Vechten)
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| Born | John Alfred Williams December 5, 1925 Jackson, Mississippi, US |
| Died | July 3, 2015 (aged 89) Paramus, New Jersey, US |
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| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Notable works | The Man Who Cried I Am (1967) |
| Notable awards | American Book Award |
| Spouse | Lori Isaac (m. 1965) |
John Alfred Williams (born December 5, 1925 – died July 3, 2015) was an important African American writer, journalist, and teacher. He wrote many books, poems, and articles. His novel The Man Who Cried I Am was very popular in 1967. He also won an American Book Award for his poetry book Safari West.
Contents
Discovering John A. Williams
Early Life and Education
John A. Williams was born in Jackson, Mississippi. His family later moved to Syracuse, New York. After serving in the World War II navy, he went to Syracuse University. He graduated from there in 1950.
A Career in Journalism
Williams worked as a journalist for several well-known magazines. These included Ebony, Jet, and Newsweek. His articles often explored important topics. One of his Ebony articles, "Negro In Literature Today," was highly praised.
His Powerful Novels
Williams wrote many novels that focused on the experiences of Black people in America. Some of his famous books include The Angry Ones (1960) and The Man Who Cried I Am (1967).
The Man Who Cried I Am tells a fictional story. It was inspired by the life of African American writer Richard Wright. This book introduced a fictional idea called the "King Alfred Plan." This was a made-up plan by the CIA to remove people of African descent. It's important to remember this plan was part of a story and not real.
Another novel, Sons of Darkness, Sons of Light: A Novel of Some Probability (1969), imagined a conflict in the United States. The story starts like a thriller or detective fiction. It then changes to a story about a big event when the characters begin to fight back.
Working with Music
In the early 1980s, John Williams worked on an interesting project. He teamed up with composer Leslie Burrs. They planned to finish Queenie Pie, an opera by the famous Duke Ellington. Duke Ellington had left the opera unfinished when he died. However, Williams and Burrs' project did not get completed. Other people later finished the opera.
In 2003, Williams also performed a spoken-word piece. This was for the rock band Powerman 5000's album, Transform. His son, Adam Williams, was the band's guitarist at that time.
Awards and Recognitions
John Williams received many honors for his work.
- In 1970, Syracuse University gave him the Centennial Medal for Outstanding Achievement.
- His novel !Click Song won the American Book Award in 1983.
- In 1998, his poetry book Safari West also won the American Book Award.
- On October 16, 2011, he received a Lifetime Achievement award from the American Book Awards. This award recognized all his amazing contributions to literature.
Later Life and Passing
John Williams married Lori Isaac in 1965. In 1975, they moved to Teaneck, New Jersey. They chose this place because it was welcoming to couples from different backgrounds.
Williams passed away on July 3, 2015, in Paramus, New Jersey. He was 89 years old. He had been living with Alzheimer's disease.
His Lasting Legacy
John Williams' personal writings, including his letters and photos, are kept in special collections. You can find them at the University of Rochester and Syracuse University. These collections help people learn more about his life and important work.
