Mel Watkins (American writer) facts for kids

Mel Watkins (born March 8, 1940) is an American writer and reviewer. He used to work at The New York Times. He has written many articles and books about comedy and African-American literature. You might have seen him on TV shows. He often talks about the history of entertainment and famous performers. These include people like Chris Rock and Richard Pryor.

About Mel Watkins

Mel Watkins joined The New York Times newspaper in 1964. In 1966, he made history. He became the first African-American editor. This was for the Times Sunday Book Review section. He worked there until 1985.

His Work at The New York Times

While at the Times, he wrote many things. He wrote book reviews and articles. These articles covered literature, sports, and entertainment. He also wrote about artists and writers who had passed away. Some of these included George Carlin and Richard Pryor. He also wrote about Gwendolyn Brooks. From 1986 to 1991, he was the Book Page editor. This was for American Visions magazine.

Awards and Books

In 1979, Mel Watkins received a special award. It was called the Alicia Patterson journalism fellowship. His research for this award was about African-American humor. This research led to a very famous book. It was called On the Real Side. This book explored how African-American humor changed American culture. A newer version of the book came out in 1999. It was called On the Real Side: A History of African American Comedy.

Mel Watkins' first published book was Black Review (1971). He edited this book. It was a collection of writings. It included work from Julius Lester and Nikki Giovanni. Later, he wrote more books. These include Dancing with Strangers: A Memoir (1998). He also wrote The Bob Love Story (2000). Another book was African American Humor: The Best Black Comedy from Slavery to Today (2002). His most recent book is Stepin Fetchit: The Life and Times of Lincoln Perry (2005). This book tells the story of a famous African-American actor.

Where He Lives and Teaches

Mel Watkins was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. Today, he lives in New York City. He continues to write and give talks there. He graduated from Colgate University in 1962. He is listed as one of their Distinguished Alumni. Since 2007, he has been a professor. He teaches humanities in the English department at Colgate University.