Juanita Harrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juanita Harrison
Juanita Harrison, from a 1935 newspaper
Born	December 26, 1887 Columbus, Mississippi
Died	1967 Honolulu County, Hawaii
Occupation	Writer, traveler, domestic worker

Juanita Harrison (born December 26, 1887 – died 1967) was an amazing African-American writer. She was famous for her book, My Great, Wide, Beautiful World (1936). This book tells the story of her incredible travels all around the world.

Juanita's Early Life

Juanita Harrison was born in Columbus, Mississippi. Her parents were Jones Harrison and Rosa Greglar. When she was young, Juanita spent her days cooking, washing, and ironing. She had to do a lot of chores at home. Juanita stopped going to school when she was about ten years old.

Traveling the World

Juanita Harrison started her adventures when she was 16 years old. She traveled to 22 different countries! She loved every place she visited. Juanita once said, "Can't but help love the last place best." She felt that each trip was a special experience. For example, she said the Taj Mahal thrilled her. She felt its beauty came from love.

How She Funded Her Travels

Juanita paid for her trips by working many different jobs. She worked wherever she happened to be. She was a nurse, a nanny, and a cleaning lady. She got her first money from former employers. They were George W. Dickinson and Myra K. Dickinson from Los Angeles. The Dickinsons invested some of Juanita's salary. They put her money into real estate. Then they gave her the profits. Juanita had always wanted to see the world. These investments soon gave her $200 each year. She even dedicated her book to Myra Dickinson.

A Scary Train Accident

On September 10, 1928, Juanita was in a train accident. This happened in Czechoslovakia. She wrote about trying to help a young German woman. The woman was badly hurt and died in Juanita's arms. Juanita was able to get money from this dangerous event. She asked for money for a black eye. She received $200 in return.

Writing Her Book

Two people thought Juanita's travel letters were very good. One was E. A. Tufts, an employer in Hawai'i. The other was Mildred Morris, whose mother employed Juanita in Paris. Tufts collected Juanita's letters about her travels. He sent them to be published. This became her famous book, My Great, Wide, Beautiful World (1936).

Her Unique Writing Style

The book includes her actual journal entries. Juanita insisted that her mistakes stay in the book. She said, "If the mistekes [mistakes] are left out there’ll be only blank." Parts of her book were published in Atlantic Monthly in 1935. My Great, Wide, Beautiful World was reviewed by many. Time magazine said readers would admire her freedom. They also liked her "impressionistic spelling." A writer for the Honolulu Advertiser called her adventures "the most deliciously hilarious trip ever made."

Later Life and Legacy

Juanita signed a copy of her book for Mr. and Mrs. Frank Estes. She also gave them personal photos. She lived on their property in Hawaii after her travels. In 1935 and 1937, she lived in a tent in Waikiki with her dog, Pluto. People mentioned a second book, but it was never published. She was in Brazil in 1939. She lived for almost ten years in Buenos Aires. Then she returned to Hawai'i.

Juanita Harrison passed away in 1967. She was buried at The Valley of Temples in Oahu.