Hoyt W. Fuller
Encyclopedia
Hoyt W. Fuller born on September 10, 1923 in Atlanta, Georgia, was an editor, educator, critic, and author during the Black Arts Movement
. Fuller created the Organization of Black American Culture. In addition, he taught creative writing and African American literature at Columbia College
, Northwestern University
, and Cornell University
.
following the death of his parents. Frequently, Fuller went to visit his grandmother in Atlanta, who encouraged him to explore African American
culture.
Fuller graduated from Wayne State University
in 1950, with a bachealors degree in literature
and journalism
. Fred Williams
, a local amateur historian of Detroit’s black community, became Fuller’s mentor while he attended Wayne State. Aside from giving Fuller readings about Africa and African Americans, Williams also brought Fuller along on his research trips to interview older members of the black community. After graduation, Fuller pursued a career in journalism. He worked at the Detroit Tribune
(1949–1951), the Michigan Chronicle
(1951–1954), and Ebony (magazine)
(1954–1957).
Fuller became frustrated with the disconnect between Ebony’s content and the struggle for black freedom, so he quit his position as associate editor in 1957. In his autobiographical work Journey to Africa (1971), Fuller describes his inability to find employment after leaving Ebony and his anger at the racially oppressive culture of America. As a result, Fuller moved to Europe, living for three years (1957 to 1960) in France
and Spain
. While in Spain
, he wrote about West Africa
for the Amsterdam Hasage Post. Fuller spent three months in Algiers
and Guinea
, an experience that inspired him to write Journey to Africa.
Fuller’s experiences in Africa
gave him a new sense of purpose and led him to return to the United States in 1960. No longer concerned with reforming white American racial beliefs, Fuller focused his attention on black America. He believed that African and African American culture would inspire black Americans to take action against racial oppression and contribute to more confident expressions of their own identity. Robert Joseph Collier
Encyclopedia hired Fuller as associate editor
in 1960. In 1961, he became editor of The Negro Digest
, which became the Black World in 1970. Negro Digest/Black World was devoted to black culture and arts and it became an important venue for many Black Arts Movement writers. When The Negro Digest
or Black World was discontinued in 1975, Fuller moved to Atlanta and founded the journal First World (1977–1980).
Fuller worked at several universities, including Cornell University
and Northwestern University
. He visited Africa again in 1965-1966 as a John Hay Whitney
Opportunity Fellow. He also helped organize several Pan-African festivals and formed the Chicago Organization of Black American Culture, a writers’ group. In 1981, Fuller died of a heart attack in Atlanta.
Black Arts Movement
The Black Arts Movement or BAM is the artistic branch of the Black Power movement. It was started in Harlem by writer and activist Amiri Baraka...
. Fuller created the Organization of Black American Culture. In addition, he taught creative writing and African American literature at Columbia College
Columbia College
Columbia College may refer to one of several institutions of higher education in North America:In Canada* Columbia College , in Calgary* Columbia College , a two-year liberal arts institution in Vancouver...
, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
Biography
In 1927, Fuller's mother, Lillie Beatrice Ellafair Thomas fell ill to a disease which caused her to become invalid and later brought upon death. Shortly after, Fuller's farther, Thomas Fuller died the same year. Fuller went to live with his aunt in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
following the death of his parents. Frequently, Fuller went to visit his grandmother in Atlanta, who encouraged him to explore African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
culture.
Fuller graduated from Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in 1950, with a bachealors degree in literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. Fred Williams
Fred Williams
Frederick Ronald Williams OBE was an Australian painter and printmaker. He was one of Australia’s most important artists, and one of the twentieth century’s major painters of the landscape...
, a local amateur historian of Detroit’s black community, became Fuller’s mentor while he attended Wayne State. Aside from giving Fuller readings about Africa and African Americans, Williams also brought Fuller along on his research trips to interview older members of the black community. After graduation, Fuller pursued a career in journalism. He worked at the Detroit Tribune
Detroit Tribune
The Detroit Tribune a newspaper in Detroit, Michigan was started as the Daily Tribune in 1849 and used the name until 1862. In 1862 the Tribune joined with the Daily Advertiser which then subsequently absorbed other papers, becoming the Advertiser and Tribune. It acquired new management, including...
(1949–1951), the Michigan Chronicle
Michigan Chronicle
The Michigan Chronicle is a weekly African-American run newspaper based in Detroit, Michigan. It was founded in 1936 by John Sengstacke, owner of the Chicago Defender. The first editor was Louis E. Martin, whom Sengestacke sent to Detroit on June 6, giving him a $5.00 raise above his $15-per-week...
(1951–1954), and Ebony (magazine)
Ebony (magazine)
Ebony, a monthly magazine for the African-American market, was founded by John H. Johnson and has published continuously since the autumn of 1945...
(1954–1957).
Fuller became frustrated with the disconnect between Ebony’s content and the struggle for black freedom, so he quit his position as associate editor in 1957. In his autobiographical work Journey to Africa (1971), Fuller describes his inability to find employment after leaving Ebony and his anger at the racially oppressive culture of America. As a result, Fuller moved to Europe, living for three years (1957 to 1960) in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. While in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, he wrote about West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
for the Amsterdam Hasage Post. Fuller spent three months in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
and Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, an experience that inspired him to write Journey to Africa.
Fuller’s experiences in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
gave him a new sense of purpose and led him to return to the United States in 1960. No longer concerned with reforming white American racial beliefs, Fuller focused his attention on black America. He believed that African and African American culture would inspire black Americans to take action against racial oppression and contribute to more confident expressions of their own identity. Robert Joseph Collier
Robert Joseph Collier
Robert Joseph Collier was the son of Peter Fenelon Collier, and a principal in the publishing company "P.F. Collier & Son". Upon his father's death, he became head of P.F. Collier & Son Company, and for a time was editor of Collier's Weekly...
Encyclopedia hired Fuller as associate editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
in 1960. In 1961, he became editor of The Negro Digest
The Negro Digest
The Negro Digest was a popular African American magazine founded in November 1942 by John H. Johnson. It was first presented locally in Chicago, Illinois. The Negro Digest was quite similar to the Reader's Digest; however, it was aimed to target positive influences in the African American...
, which became the Black World in 1970. Negro Digest/Black World was devoted to black culture and arts and it became an important venue for many Black Arts Movement writers. When The Negro Digest
The Negro Digest
The Negro Digest was a popular African American magazine founded in November 1942 by John H. Johnson. It was first presented locally in Chicago, Illinois. The Negro Digest was quite similar to the Reader's Digest; however, it was aimed to target positive influences in the African American...
or Black World was discontinued in 1975, Fuller moved to Atlanta and founded the journal First World (1977–1980).
Fuller worked at several universities, including Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He visited Africa again in 1965-1966 as a John Hay Whitney
John Hay Whitney
John Hay Whitney , colloquially known as "Jock" Whitney, was U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, publisher of the New York Herald Tribune, and a member of the Whitney family.-Family:...
Opportunity Fellow. He also helped organize several Pan-African festivals and formed the Chicago Organization of Black American Culture, a writers’ group. In 1981, Fuller died of a heart attack in Atlanta.