Reed, Ishmael
1938-present · Contribution: 1967-present
Fiction, poetry, essays, and drama; satirical, genre-bending novels including 'Mumbo Jumbo' (1972), 'The Free-Lance Pallbearers' (1967), and 'Flight to Canada' (1976), and poetry such as 'Conjure' (1972); developed the 'Neo-HooDoo' aesthetic
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
A major postmodern satirist of American life and race; 'Mumbo Jumbo' was nominated for a National Book Award and 'Conjure' for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Co-founded the Before Columbus Foundation to promote multicultural literature.
Life & background
African-American writer born Feb 22, 1938 in Chattanooga, TN; raised in Buffalo, NY. Longtime lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley; also a jazz/blues lyricist and pianist.
Sources
- Academy of American Poets; Poetry Foundation
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