Opal Palmer Adisa facts for kids

Opal Palmer Adisa was born on November 6, 1954. She is a talented writer, poet, and artist from both Jamaica and the United States. Her work has appeared in over 400 books and magazines.

Opal Palmer Adisa often performs her own writings around the world. She used to be a professor at the California College of the Arts. Currently, she leads the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica. This is where she lives today.

Early Life and Inspiration

Opal Palmer Adisa grew up near Kingston, Jamaica. She went to school in the capital city. In 1970, she moved to New York to study at Hunter College. Later, in 1979, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. There, she studied creative writing to earn her master's degree.

Her childhood on a sugar estate in Jamaica greatly influenced her writing. Her father worked as a chemist, and her mother was a bookkeeper. In this setting, young Opal learned the art of storytelling. She also saw the challenges women and poor people faced. These experiences, along with her mother's efforts to help others, inspired Adisa. She wanted to "give voice to the voiceless" from a young age.

Her Work and Teaching

Opal Palmer Adisa has two master's degrees from San Francisco State University. She also has a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley. She has taught many classes at different universities. These include California College of the Arts, Stanford University, and University of Berkeley.

From 1993 to 2017, Adisa taught writing and literature. She also led the Ethnic Studies/Cultural Diversity Program at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. In 2010, she was a visiting professor at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). For two years, she edited The Caribbean Writer. This is a famous journal about Caribbean literature.

In 2017, she became the Director of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies. This is at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica. In 2018, she was given the title of Professor Emeritus. This honored her 25 years of work at the California College of the Arts.

Using Nation Language

A special part of her poetry is her use of nation language. This is a unique way of speaking in the Caribbean. Opal Palmer Adisa explains that Louise Bennett inspired her to write in this language. She saw the beauty in it.

Adisa uses nation language when it helps her express her true feelings. It adds a sense of closeness and color to her words. She also uses it to make readers pay closer attention. It reminds them of the Caribbean culture and feelings she wants to share.

Artist Residencies

Opal Palmer Adisa has been a writer-in-residence at several places. This means she was invited to live and work there as an artist.

• Cairo, Egypt, Binational Fulbright Institute (2007)
• Itaparica, Bahia, Brazil, Sacatar Institute (2006)
• Laurel Hill, NC, McColl Center for Art + Innovation (2001)
• Charlotte, NC, McColl Center for Art + Innovation (2000)
• Sausalito, CA, Headlands Center for the Arts (1996)

Awards and Recognition

Opal Palmer Adisa has received many awards for her writing and artistic work:

• Pushcart Prize for her short story "Duppy Get Her" (1987).
• PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award for her book Tamarind and Mango Women (1992).
• Canute A. Brodhurst Prize for "The Brethren" in The Caribbean Writer.
• Daily News Prize for best poems in The Caribbean Writer.
• Distinguished Writer for the Middle Atlantic Writers Association.
• Distinguished Bay Area Woman Writer Award from the California Legislative Assembly.
• Master Folk Artist for Storytelling, awarded by the California Arts Council.
• Creative Work Fund Grant for the West Oakland Senior Citizen Oral History Project.
• Creative Artist Fellowship Award for Storytelling, City of Oakland.

See also

• List of Jamaican Americans
• Jamaican literature