Pearl Cleage
Encyclopedia
Pearl Cleage is an African-American author whose work, both fiction and non-fiction, has been widely recognized. Her novel, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day was a 1998 Oprah’s Book Club selection. Cleage is known for her feminist views, particularly regarding her identity as an African-American woman. Cleage currently teaches drama at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
. The family later moved to Detroit, Michigan
after backlash from the community due to his radical teachings, where Bishop Cleage was a prominent Civil Rights leader. Cleage first attended Howard University
in Washington, D.C.
in 1966 majoring in playwriting and dramatic literature. However she moved to Atlanta, Georgia
to attend Spelman College
in 1969, where she eventually attained a bachelor's degree in drama in 1971. She then joined the Spelman faculty as a writer and playwright in residence and as a creative director.
In 1969, Michael Lomax
, an Atlanta politician and past-president of Dillard University
in New Orleans, Louisiana
, and Cleage were married and had a daughter, Deignan Njeri. The marriage ended in divorce in 1979.
.
in Atlanta, Georgia
. She also speaks at colleges, universities, and conferences on topics including domestic violence, the citizen's role in a participatory democracy, and writing topics.
Early life and career
Pearl Cleage was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, the daughter of Doris Cleage neé Graham), a teacher, and the late civil rights activist Bishop Albert CleageAlbert Cleage
Albert Cleage was a Christian religious leader, political candidate, newspaper publisher, political organizer and author. He is founder of the Shrine of the Black Madonna Church and Cultural Centers in Detroit and Atlanta...
. The family later moved to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, 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...
after backlash from the community due to his radical teachings, where Bishop Cleage was a prominent Civil Rights leader. Cleage first attended Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1966 majoring in playwriting and dramatic literature. However she moved to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
to attend Spelman College
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
in 1969, where she eventually attained a bachelor's degree in drama in 1971. She then joined the Spelman faculty as a writer and playwright in residence and as a creative director.
In 1969, Michael Lomax
Michael Lomax
Dr. Michael Lucius Lomax is, since 2004, the president and chief executive officer of the United Negro College Fund of the United States. Lomax is the son of Lucius W. Lomax, Jr...
, an Atlanta politician and past-president of Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, and Cleage were married and had a daughter, Deignan Njeri. The marriage ended in divorce in 1979.
Writing career
Cleage has written many novels, plays, and non-fiction works borrowing heavily from her life experiences. Many of her novels are set in neighborhoods in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Later life
Cleage has been married to Zaron Burnett, Jr, writer and director for the Just Us Theater Company, since 1994. She has one daughter from her previous marriage and two grandchildren. Cleage currently teaches drama at Spelman CollegeSpelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. She also speaks at colleges, universities, and conferences on topics including domestic violence, the citizen's role in a participatory democracy, and writing topics.
Politics
Pearl notably writes about topics at the intersection of sexism and racism, specifically on issues such as domestic violence and rape in the black community. She has been a supporter of the Obama administration. Cleage is an activist for AIDS and women's rights, experiences from which she draws from for her writings.Novels
- The Brass Bed and Other Stories (1991; ISBN 0883781271)
- What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary DayWhat Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary DayWhat Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day is a novel by Pearl Cleage, and was chosen as an Oprah's Book Club selection in September 1998. The book focuses on a black woman who has moved back to her Michigan hometown following a positive diagnosis for HIV. The novel was Cleage's first.- Characters :*...
(1997; ISBN 038097584X) - I Wish I Had a Red Dress (2001; ISBN 0694524182)
- Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do (2003; ISBN 0345456068)
- Babylon Sisters: A Novel (2005; ISBN 0345456092)
- Baby Brother's Blues (2006; ISBN 0345481100)
- Seen It All and Done the Rest (22008; ISBN 0345481135)
- Till You Hear From Me (2010; ISBN 0345506375)
- Just Wanna Testify (2011; ISBN 0345506367)
Plays
- Flyin' West (1995; ISBN 0822214652)
- Blues for an Alabama Sky (1999; ISBN 0822216345)
- Bourbon at the Border (2006; ISBN 082222075X)
- We Speak Your Names: A Celebration, with Zaron W. Burnett (2006; ISBN 0786174420)
Non-fiction
- Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to Truth (1990; ISBN 0962814202)
- Deals With the Devil and Other Reasons to Riot (1993; ISBN 0345382781)
Awards
- 1983 Five AUDELCOAUDELCOAUDELCO, the Audience Development Committee, Inc., was established in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson to honor excellence in New York African American Theatre through presentation of Vivan Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Awards...
Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway, 1983 - 2010 Sankofa Freedom Award
Nominations
- In 2007, Cleage was nominated for the 38th NAACP Image Awards, receiving one nomination for Baby Brother’s Blues (Outstanding Literary Work in fiction) and another for We Speak Your Names (Outstanding Literary Work in poetry).
External links
- Author Profile from Bookreporter.com
- Pearl Cleage's Official Page at Facebook.com