Taylor Branch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taylor Branch
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| Born | January 14, 1947 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA) Princeton University (MPA) |
| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Notable works | America in the King Years |
| Notable awards | MacArthur Fellowship National Humanities Medal Pulitzer Prize for History |
| Spouse | Christina Macy |
| Children | 2 |
Taylor Branch (born January 14, 1947) is an American author and historian. He is famous for writing a three-book series about the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and the history of the American civil rights movement. This movement was a time when people worked to end unfair treatment and gain equal rights for all, especially for African Americans. His big book series, called America in the King Years, won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize.
Contents
About Taylor Branch's Life
Early Years and School
Taylor Branch grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He finished high school in 1964. After that, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He studied there and graduated in 1968. Later, he earned another degree from Princeton University in 1970.
His Career as a Writer
Taylor Branch has worked for many well-known magazines. He was an editor for The Washington Monthly and Harper's. He also wrote columns for Esquire Magazine. His articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine and other publications.
In 1972, Taylor Branch worked on a political campaign in Texas. There, he became friends with Bill Clinton, who later became the President of the United States. Their friendship continued for many years. Branch even wrote a book about his conversations with President Clinton, called The Clinton Tapes. These talks happened while Clinton was president.
Branch also taught history and politics at Goucher College and the University of Baltimore.
Awards and Achievements
Taylor Branch has received several important awards for his work. In 1991, he got a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, which is sometimes called a "genius grant." This award helps talented people focus on their important projects. In 1999, he received the National Humanities Medal.
His most famous achievement is winning the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1989 for his book Parting the Waters. This award is one of the highest honors for writers in the United States.
In 2013, he helped make a film called Schooled: The Price of College Sports. This film was based on his book The Cartel.
Taylor Branch's Family
Taylor Branch lives in Baltimore, Maryland. He is married to Christina Macy. They have two children, Macy and Franklin.
His Books
Taylor Branch is best known for his books about the civil rights movement.
- Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-63 (1988)
- This book won the Pulitzer Prize for History.
- Pillar of Fire: America in the King Years, 1963-65 (1998)
- At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-1968 (2006)
- The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President (2009)
- The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement (2013)
- This book is a shorter version of his three-book series.
