Mel Watkins (American writer) facts for kids

Mel Watkins (born March 8, 1940) is an American writer and critic. He is known for writing about comedy and African-American literature. As a critic, he shares his expert opinions on books, movies, and other art forms. He has often appeared on TV to talk about the history of entertainment and famous comedians like Chris Rock and Richard Pryor.

A Career in Writing

Mel Watkins was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. After graduating from Colgate University in 1962, he began a long and successful career in writing and editing.

The New York Times

In 1964, Watkins started working for the famous newspaper The New York Times. Two years later, in 1966, he made history by becoming the first African-American editor at the Times Sunday Book Review. This is a special section of the newspaper that reviews new books. He worked there until 1985.

During his time at the Times, Watkins wrote many reviews and articles. He covered topics like books, sports, and entertainment. He also wrote obituaries, which are articles that honor people who have died. He wrote about famous figures like comedians George Carlin and Richard Pryor, and the poet Gwendolyn Brooks.

Author and Editor

Besides his work at the newspaper, Watkins has written and edited several important books.

His first published book was an anthology called Black Review (1971). An anthology is a collection of stories or poems by different authors. Watkins edited this collection, which featured works by writers like Nikki Giovanni.

Watkins is especially known for his work on the history of African-American humor. In 1979, he received a special award for journalism that allowed him to research this topic. This research led to his famous book, On the Real Side: A History of African American Comedy, first published in 1994.

Some of his other books include:

• Dancing with Strangers: A Memoir (1998), a book about his own life.
• The Bob Love Story (2000), about the famous basketball player.
• African American Humor: The Best Black Comedy from Slavery to Today (2002).
• Stepin Fetchit: The Life and Times of Lincoln Perry (2005), a biography of a pioneering African-American movie actor.

Today, Watkins lives in New York City. He continues to write and give talks about his work. He has also taught English at his old school, Colgate University, where he is recognized as a distinguished graduate.