Watts Writers Workshop facts for kids

The Watts Writers Workshop was a special group where young people learned to write and express themselves. It was started by a writer named Budd Schulberg in 1965, right after the Watts Riots in Los Angeles. Schulberg wanted to help the community through writing.

The workshop ran from 1965 to 1973. Most of the young writers were African American, living in Watts and nearby areas. At first, the workshop also included acting, and the actor Yaphet Kotto was one of its founders. Over time, the workshop grew, getting money from groups like the Rockefeller Foundation. Later, it was discovered that the FBI had secretly watched the workshop. Many talented writers were part of the workshop, including Quincy Troupe, Wanda Coleman, and the poetry group The Watts Prophets.

How the Workshop Started and Grew

Beginning in 1965

The Watts Writers Workshop began in September 1965. Some of the first members included Ernest Mayhand, Leumas Sirrah, James Thomas Jackson, and Birdell Chew Moore. Many other young writers joined them, eager to share their stories and poems.

Getting National Attention

On August 16, 1966, the workshop was featured in a TV show called The Angry Voices of Watts on NBC. This show helped the workshop get a lot of attention. Famous people like James Baldwin, John Steinbeck, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy showed their support.

Books and Publications

In 1967, two books were published that showed off the writing from the group. Both were put together by Budd Schulberg. One book was called From the Ashes: Voices of Watts. The other was a special issue of a magazine called The Antioch Review. In 1968, another book of poems and essays, Watts Poets, was published, edited by Quincy Troupe.

Expanding with Support

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) gave the workshop money to create a meeting place and even homes for some members. They gave a second grant a year later to help the workshop grow even more.

In 1972, a TV personality named Sue Baker started teaching a street dance called Campbellocking at the workshop. This led to the creation of one of the first street dance groups, "Creative Generation." Many dancers from this group became popular on the TV dance show Soul Train.

The Workshop's End

Harry Dolan, who directed the Watts Writers Workshop, tried to keep it going after it lost government funding. He planned a fundraising dinner in April 1973. However, just a few months later, the workshop building burned down. The building had a theater with 350 seats. It was later revealed that an FBI informant named Darthard Perry was responsible for the fire. He said that the workshop was about to get new funding, and if there was no theater, there would be no grant.