May Miller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids May Miller
Portrait c. 1940
Born	January 26, 1899 Washington, D.C.
Died	February 8, 1995 (aged 96) Washington, D.C.
Occupation	Poet and playwright
Education	Howard University, The American University, Columbia University
Alma mater	Howard University
Literary movement	Harlem Renaissance
Notable works	Play: The Bog Guide, 1925. Poem: Inauguration of US President Jimmy Carter, 1977.

May Miller (born January 26, 1899 – died February 8, 1995) was an American writer. She wrote many poems and plays. May Miller was an African-American woman. She became known as one of the most published female play writers of the Harlem Renaissance. This was a special time when many African American artists, writers, and musicians created amazing works. During her career, she published seven books of poetry.

May Miller's Life and Work

Growing Up and Early Writing

May Miller was born in Washington, D.C.. Her parents were Kelly and Anna May Miller. She was one of their five children. Her father, Kelly Miller, was a professor at Howard University. He also started the sociology department there.

Their home on the Howard University campus was a meeting place. Important black thinkers and artists often visited. These included W.E.B DuBois, Booker T. Washington, and Langston Hughes.

May Miller finished her studies at Howard University in 1920. She then became a play writer and poet. She won an award for her play Within the Shadow in 1920. She also won an award for The Bog Guide in 1925. This award-winning play helped her become known in the Black cultural scene. It was part of the Harlem Renaissance.

In the 1930s, she wrote plays about history. She also taught English at a high school in Baltimore for 20 years. Miller was an active member of the S Street Salon. This was a gathering hosted by Georgia Douglas Johnson. Johnson's house was a place where black artists and writers met every Saturday. These meetings happened for 40 years.

A Career in Writing and Teaching

Miller started writing poetry when she was young. She even bought earrings with her first earnings. While at Dunbar High School, she learned from writers Mary P. Burrill and Angelina Weld Grimke. She began attending Howard University at age 16 in 1916.

While in college, Miller became interested in showing plays by African-American writers. She graduated in 1920. Later, she won an award for her play Within the Shadows.

May Miller became part of the Harlem Renaissance cultural scene. This happened when her play The Bog Guide was published in 1925. Her work won third place in a play contest. This contest was held by Opportunity magazine in 1925.

Miller wanted her writing to show black people with respect and dignity. She felt this was often missing in plays. In the 1940s, she started writing more poetry. She was inspired by other writers and artists.

Miller continued her studies in poetry and drama. She attended The American University and Columbia University. After that, she taught English and speech for twenty years. She taught at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore, Maryland.

She wanted to share stories of black history and heroes with her students. So, she wrote many plays and poems for this reason. Miller also gave talks at other colleges. Her plays included historical dramas. Some were about Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman. She also wrote plays in other styles.

In the 1970s, she read her poetry at important events. One of these was the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

Famous Works by May Miller

Poetry

• Into the Clearing. Washington, D.C.: Charioteer Press, 1959.
• Poems. Thetford, Vt: Cricket Press, 1962.
• Lyrics of Three Women. With Katie L. Lyle and Maude Rubin. Baltimore: Linden Press, 1964.
• Not That Far. San Luis Obispo: Solo Press, 1973. ISBN: 978-0-941490-12-2.
• The Clearing and Beyond. Washington, D.C.: Charioteer Press, 1974. ISBN: 0910350086.
• Dust of Uncertain Journey. Detroit: Lotus Press, 1975. ISBN: 9780916418052.
• Halfway to the Sun. Washington, D.C.: Washington Writers Publishing House, 1981. ISBN: 093184617X.
• The Ransomed Wait. Detroit: Lotus Press, 1983. ISBN: 978-0-916418-40-3.
• Collected Poems. Detroit: Lotus Press, 1989. ISBN: 978-0-916418-70-0.

Plays

• The Bog Guide. Alexandria, Virginia: Alexander Street Press, 2003. (Original work published in 1925.)
• Scratches. Alexandria, VA: Alexander Street Press, 2003. (Original work published in 1929.)
• Stragglers in the Dust. Alexandria, VA: Alexander Street Press, 2001. (Original work published in 1930.)
• Nails and Thorns. Alexandria, VA: Alexander Street Press, 2001. (Original work published in 1933.)

See also

• Harlem Renaissance
• Kelly Miller