Willard Motley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willard Motley
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Portrait of Motley by Carl Van Vechten, 1947.
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| Born | Willard Francis Motley July 14, 1909 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | March 4, 1965 (aged 55) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Pen name | Bud Billiken |
| Occupation | Author |
| Education | Englewood High School (Chicago) |
| Years active | 1923–1965 |
| Notable works | Knock on Any Door (1947); Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1958) |
| Relatives | Archibald Motley (uncle) |
Willard Francis Motley (born July 14, 1909 – died March 4, 1965) was an American writer. He wrote for the Chicago Defender newspaper. He used the pen name Bud Billiken for his column.
Willard Motley also worked as a freelance writer. He helped start the Hull House Magazine. He also worked on the Federal Writers Project. His most famous book was Knock on Any Door. This book was later made into a movie.
Contents
Early Life and Writing Career
Willard Motley grew up in the Englewood area of Chicago. His family was one of the few African-American families living there. His father worked as a Pullman porter, helping passengers on trains.
Willard went to Lewis-Champlain grammar school. He also graduated from Englewood High School. He was related to the famous artist Archibald Motley. They were raised like brothers, even though Archibald was Willard's uncle. The Motley family was Catholic.
Starting as a Writer
Robert S. Abbott hired Willard to write for the Chicago Defender. Willard wrote a children's column called "Bud Says." He used the pen name "Bud Billiken" for this column.
Willard traveled to New York, California, and other western states. He earned money by doing different jobs. He also wrote for radio shows and newspapers. In 1939, he came back to Chicago. He lived near the Maxwell Street Market. This market later appeared in his stories.
He became involved with Hull House, a famous community center. He helped create the Hull House Magazine. Some of his early stories were published there. In 1940, he worked for the Works Progress Administration Federal Writers Project. Other famous writers like Richard Wright also worked there.
His Famous Books
In 1947, Willard Motley's first novel, Knock on Any Door, was released. It became very popular. The book tells the story of Nick Romano. Nick is an Italian-American boy who faces challenges and turns to crime. A famous line from the book is: "Live fast, die young and have a good-looking corpse!"
The book was an instant success. It sold 47,000 copies in just three weeks. In 1949, it was made into a movie starring Humphrey Bogart. Some people wondered why Motley, an African-American writer, wrote about white characters. Motley replied, "My race is the human race." He meant that his stories were about all people.
His second book, We Fished All Night (1948), was not as successful. After it came out, Motley moved to Mexico. His third book, Let No Man Write My Epitaph, continues the story from Knock on Any Door. Columbia Pictures made it into a movie in 1960. The singer Ella Fitzgerald recorded music for the film.
Reception of His Work
Willard Motley was praised for his honest and heartfelt writing. He was recognized for exploring many different parts of life in Chicago. In 2014, he was honored by being added to the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.
Later Life and Legacy
Willard Motley passed away in Mexico City, Mexico, on March 4, 1965. He was 55 years old. One last book, Let Noon Be Fair, was published after his death in 1966.
Since 1929, Chicago has held an annual Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic. This parade uses the pen name Motley used early in his career. The parade takes place every second Saturday in August. It travels through several neighborhoods on Chicago's south side. Most of Motley's original writings and papers are kept at Northern Illinois University.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Motley by Carl Van Vechten, 1947.
