Melvin B. Tolson facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Melvin B. Tolson

Born	Melvin Beaunorus Tolson (1898-02-06)February 6, 1898 Moberly, Missouri, United States
Died	August 29, 1966(1966-08-29) (aged 68) Dallas, Texas, United States
Burial place	Guthrie, Oklahoma
Alma mater	Lincoln University; Columbia University
Occupation	Poet

Melvin Beaunorus Tolson (February 6, 1898 – August 29, 1966) was an important American poet, teacher, writer, and politician. He was known for his unique poetry style. His writing was inspired by both modern ideas and the rich experiences of African Americans. He also deeply studied the Harlem Renaissance, a time of great artistic growth for Black artists.

Tolson was a debate coach at Wiley College, a historically Black school in Texas. He led his team to make history by debating against white colleges in the segregated South. This was a big step towards equality. His inspiring work as a coach was shown in the 2007 movie The Great Debaters. This film was produced by Oprah Winfrey and starred Denzel Washington as Tolson.

Melvin B. Tolson: Poet, Teacher, and Leader
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Melvin B. Tolson: Poet, Teacher, and Leader

Early Life and Learning

Melvin Tolson was born in Moberly, Missouri. He was one of four children. His father, Reverend Alonzo Tolson, was a Methodist minister. His mother, Lera (Hurt) Tolson, was a seamstress. His father, Alonzo Tolson, was born to an enslaved woman, and his heritage was mixed.

Reverend Tolson served in churches across Missouri and Iowa. He always sought to learn more, even studying Latin, Greek, and Hebrew by mail. Both of Melvin's parents strongly believed in the power of education for their children.

Melvin Tolson finished Lincoln High School in Kansas City in 1919. He first attended Fisk University. The next year, he moved to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania because of money reasons. He graduated with excellent grades in 1923.

Family Life

In 1922, Tolson married Ruth Southall (1896-1982). They met while students at Lincoln University. Ruth was from Charlottesville, Virginia.

They had four children together. Their first son, Melvin Beaunorus Tolson Jr., became a doctor and professor. Arthur Lincoln Tolson also became a professor. Wiley Wilson Tolson became a doctor, and Ruth Marie Tolson was their daughter.

A Career of Teaching and Inspiration

After college, Tolson and his wife moved to Marshall, Texas. He taught speech and English at Wiley College from 1924 to 1947. Wiley College was a respected historically Black college. Tolson quickly became one of its most celebrated teachers.

In 1930–31, Tolson took a break from teaching. He went to Columbia University to earn his Master's degree. His special project was about "The Harlem Group of Negro Writers." He interviewed many artists from the Harlem Renaissance for this work. His time in New York greatly influenced his poetry. He finished his degree in 1940.

Shaping Young Minds at Wiley College

Besides teaching English, Tolson created an amazing debate team. This team, the Wiley Forensic Society, made history. They were pioneers in holding debates between Black and white colleges.

Starting in 1930, his team debated law students from the University of Michigan. In 1931, they had the first known interracial college debate in the South. They competed against Oklahoma City University. In 1935, they even beat the top-ranked team from the University of Southern California.

Tolson also helped start a Black intercollegiate drama and speech association. He directed the theater club and coached the junior varsity football team. He truly helped students grow in many ways.

Mentoring Future Leaders

Tolson was a mentor to many students. Some of them, like James Farmer and Heman Sweatt, became important civil rights activists. He taught his students to be well-rounded. He also encouraged them to stand up for their rights.

This was a brave stance in the segregated U.S. South of the early 20th century. During this time, unfair Jim Crow laws separated people by race. These laws also limited the ability of Black people to participate fully in society.

Poet Laureate and Mayor

In 1947, Tolson began teaching at Langston University. This was another historically Black college in Langston, Oklahoma. He worked there for 17 years. He was also a dramatist and director for the Dust Bowl Theater at the university.

In 1947, the country of Liberia named Tolson its Poet Laureate. This means he was recognized as the nation's official poet. In 1953, he wrote a long poem called Libretto for the Republic of Liberia to honor Liberia's 100th birthday.

Tolson also became involved in local government. He served three terms as the mayor of Langston, Oklahoma. He was mayor from 1954 to 1960.

Many people admired Tolson's sharp mind and creative poetry. The poet Langston Hughes described him as "the most famous Negro professor in the Southwest." Hughes also said Tolson was "a poet of no mean ability." He could connect with all kinds of students. "Kids from the cottonfields like him. Cowpunchers understand him," Hughes wrote. He taught not just English, but also character, courage, and pride.

In 1965, Tolson was appointed as the Avalon Poet at Tuskegee Institute. He passed away after surgery for cancer in Dallas, Texas, on August 29, 1966. He was buried in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Tolson's Amazing Literary Works

Melvin Tolson started writing poetry around 1930. He also wrote two plays by 1937, but he focused mostly on poetry after that.

From 1937 to 1944, Tolson wrote a newspaper column. It was called "Cabbage and Caviar" for The Washington Tribune. A collection of these columns was published later in 1982.

In 1941, Tolson published his poem "Dark Symphony" in the Atlantic Monthly magazine. Some people think this is one of his best works. In it, he explored the histories of African Americans and European Americans.

His first book of poems, Rendezvous with America, came out in 1944. This book included "Dark Symphony." Tolson was very interested in forgotten historical events.

Another important work was his Libretto for the Republic of Liberia (1953). This was a long, epic poem with eight parts. It is seen as a major example of modernist poetry.

Tolson's last major poem published during his life was Harlem Gallery in 1965. This poem focused on African-American life. It had a jazz-like style, with quick changes and many clever references. It was very different from his earlier works.

After his death, a collection of his poems was published in 1979. It was called A Gallery of Harlem Portraits. These poems were written during his year in New York. They showed different styles, including short stories in free verse. This collection painted a picture of a lively, diverse, and culturally rich Harlem community.

Interest in Tolson's work grew over time. In 1999, the University of Virginia published Harlem Gallery and Other Poems of Melvin B. Tolson. This collection was edited by Raymond Nelson.

Tolson's original writings and papers are kept at the Library of Congress.

Lasting Legacy and Awards

Melvin B. Tolson received many honors and awards for his contributions:

He received a fellowship to Columbia University in 1930–31.
In 1947, Liberia named him its poet laureate.
In 1954, he became a permanent fellow in poetry and drama at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.
In 1964, he was elected to the New York Herald Tribune book-review board. He also received an Award for Cultural Achievement in the Fine Arts from the District of Columbia.
He received a grant from the National Institute in 1964.
In 1966, he won the annual poetry award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
In 1970, Langston University opened the Melvin B. Tolson Black Heritage Center. This center collects materials about African, African American, and African diaspora history.
In 2004, he was added to the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame after his death.
In 2007, a movie about his life, The Great Debaters, was released.