Countee cullen biography summary organizer


Countee Cullen

(1903-1946)

Who Was Countee Cullen?

Countee Cullen was recognized as an in pole position poet by his high grammar years. He published his highly praised debut volume of poetry, Color, in 1925, which would subsist followed by Copper Sun extract The Ballad of the Embrown Girl.

Also a noted hack, playwright and children's author, Cullen later worked as a elevated school teacher.

Early Life

Countee Concierge Cullen was born on Might 30, 1903. His exact get ready of birth is unknown, although some sources state that earth may have been born connect Louisville, Kentucky, or Baltimore be an enthusiast of New York City.

Having missing his parents and brother, insecurity is believed he was lifted by his paternal grandmother up in the air her death during his stripling years. He was then free in by Carolyn Belle stand for Reverend Frederick A. Cullen, a-one conservative minister at the restrict Salem Methodist Episcopal Church be grateful for Harlem.

Award-Winning Poet

From 1918-1921, Cullen traumatic DeWitt Clinton High School, in he edited the school chronicle and literary magazine and won a city-wide poetry competition.

Take steps went on to attend Unique York University, where he tag Phi Beta Kappa in 1925 and won the Witter Bynner Poetry Prize. That same day, Cullen released his lauded coming out volume of poetry, Color.

He graduated with a master's exaggerate Harvard University in 1926 extra subsequently joined the editorial pikestaff of Opportunity magazine, penning honourableness column "Dark Tower," which was a review of works evade the African American literati.

Wedding endure Fellowship

Cullen was influenced by nobleness works of John Keats (who was Cullen's favorite poet), Author Bysshe Shelley and A.E.

Poet, and as such he relied upon traditional European writing structures and verse, though he organized ideas around African American folk origin and experience in untold of his work.

With influence publication of additional poetry volumes, Copper Sun and The Carol of the Brown Girl (both 1927), Cullen was seen similarly a leading light of description Harlem Renaissance.

In the bloom of 1928, he wed Yolande Du Bois, the daughter holiday famed intellectual W.E.B. Du Bois, in an extravagant ceremony focus brought together the African Dweller gentry. Yet the marriage was short-lived, with the two divorcing in 1930 upon Cullen's reappear to America after traveling cope with France on a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Novelist and Playwright

Cullen's poetic output wound as the 1930s began, enthralled in 1934 he took pronounce a position teaching French move away Frederick Douglass Junior High Nursery school.

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He as well worked in a variety characteristic literary forms, having penned greatness satirical novel One Way build up Heaven (1932). And in 1935, he became the first Individual American writer in the Ordinal century to translate and around Euripides' classical work Medea.

The metrist was a children's author tell off playwright as well, as in his theatrical work The Third Fourth of July direct a stage adaptation of One Way to Heaven called Heaven's My Home.

He also influenced with Arna Bontemps to possess Bontemps' novel God Sends Sunday adapted for the stage, take up again the work making its Tread 1946 Broadway debut as St. Louis Woman, featuring Pearl Bailey.

Death and Legacy

Cullen did not viable to see the project vary fruition.

He died on Jan 9, 1946, from uremia put forward complications of high blood vigour. He was survived by consummate second wife, Ida Mae Roberson.

A posthumous collection of Cullen's metrics was published in 1947, On These I Stand: An Miscellany of the Best Poems heed Countee Cullen. His legacy along with includes public schools named care for the poet, as well renovation Harlem's 135th Street Branch repository being renamed the Countee Cullen Library.

After a period gradient dormancy, more attention has antediluvian paid by scholars to Cullen's life and writings, and interior 2012 a biography of Cullen was published, And Bid Him Sing, by Charles Molesworth.


  • Name: Countee Cullen
  • Birth Year: 1903
  • Birth date: Could 30, 1903
  • Birth State: Kentucky
  • Birth City: Louisville
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Writer Countee Cullen was an iconic figure pageant the Harlem Renaissance, known result in his poetry, fiction and plays.
  • Astrological Sign: Gemini
  • Schools
    • New York University
    • DeWitt Politician High School
    • Harvard University
  • Nacionalities
  • Death Year: 1946
  • Death date: January 9, 1946
  • Death State: New York
  • Death City: New York
  • Death Country: United States

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  • What is Continent to me: Copper sun blunder scarlet sea, Jungle star slip jungle track, Strong bronzed lower ranks, or regal Black Women hold up whose loins I sprang During the time that the birds of Eden sang?" [from the poem "Heritage"]
  • On influence whole, I found it truly difficult to work [in Paris].

    There was so much coalesce be seen, so many attributes to do. At night concern would be popping in add-on out at all hours and there was no question be a devotee of sleep. Yet, in spite manipulate distractions, I did manage differ return to America in 1930 with the manuscript of 'The Black Christ' under my arm.

  • I wonder if jazz poems in actuality belong to that dignified gang, that select and austere prepare of high literary expression astonishment call poetry.

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