Graham, Lorenz B.

African-American author of children's and young adult books; best-known for his "Town" series.

African-American author of children's and young adult books; best known for "Town" series.

Author of children's books.

African-American author of children's and young adult books; best known for his "Town" series.

Lorenz B. Graham was born January 27, 1902, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from Virginia Union University in 1936 and later received an M.S.W. from Columbia University in 1954. He worked as a missionary teacher in Liberia in the 1920s and drew upon this experience for several of his books. His first book, How God Fix Jonah, a collection of biblical tales told in the Liberian dialect, was published in 1946. He also used Liberia as the backdrop in I. Momolu (1966), a story told from the perspective of a young boy, that focused on the growing conflict between rural and urban Africa. The book was praised by critics for showing Africans in a realistic and positive light. He also focused on the African-American experience in the United States. He had experienced first hand the devastating effects of segregation and racism in America, and in his 'Town' series sought to portray these effects on one family. The central character of this series, David Williams, a young African-American who longs to be a doctor and finally achieves this goal, experiences racism and the changes beginning to be brought about by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The series also shows African-Americans as fully realized people, and presents positive images of the 'black' family. He tried to promote understanding and tolerance among the races, and his books have been widely praised for their belief in an ultimate resolution of racial conflicts. Graham died on September 11, 1989, in West Covina, California. Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vols. 2, 63, 74; Something About the Author Autobiography Series, vol. 5; Children's Literature Review, vol. 10; Twentieth Century Children's Writers, 3rd edition, pp.394-395.

Lorenz B. Graham was born January 27, 1902, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from Virginia Union University in 1936 and later received an M.S.W. from Columbia University in 1954. He worked as a missionary teacher in Liberia in the 1920s and drew upon this experience for several of his books. His first book, How God Fix Jonah, a collection of biblical tales told in the Liberian dialect, was published in 1946. He also used Liberia as the backdrop in I. Momolu (1966), a story told from the perspective of a young boy, that focused on the growing conflict between rural and urban Africa. The book was praised by critics for showing Africans in a realistic and positive light. He also focused on the African-American experience in the United States. He had experienced first hand the devastating effects of segregation and racism in America, and in his 'Town' series sought to protray these effects on one family. The central character of this series, David Williams, a young African-American who longs to be a doctor and finally achieves this goal, experiences racism and the changes beginning to be brought about by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The series also shows African-Americans as fully realized people, and presents positive images of the 'black' family. He tried to promote understanding and tolerance among the races, and his books have been widely praised for their belief in an ultimate resolution of racial conflicts. Graham died on September 11, 1989, in West Covina, California.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vols. 2, 63, 74 Something About the Author Autobiography Series, vol. 5 Children's Literature Review, vol. 10 Twentieth Century Children's Writers, 3rd edition, pp.394-395

Lorenz B. Graham was born January 27, 1902, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from Virginia Union University in 1936 and later received an M.S.W. from Columbia University in 1954. He worked as a missionary teacher in Liberia in the 1920s and drew upon this experience for several of his books. His first book, How God Fix Jonah, a collection of biblical tales told in the Liberian dialect, was published in 1946. He also used Liberia as the backdrop in I. Momolu (1966), a story told from the perspective of a young boy, that focused on the growing conflict between rural and urban Africa. The book was praised by critics for showing Africans in a realistic and positive light. He also focused on the African-American experience in the United States. He had experienced first hand the devastating effects of segregation and racism in America, and in his 'Town' series sought to portray these effects on one family. The central character of this series, David Williams, a young African-American who longs to be a doctor and finally achieves this goal, experiences racism and the changes beginning to be brought about by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The series also shows African-Americans as fully realized people, and presents positive images of the 'black' family. He tried to promote understanding and tolerance among the races, and his books have been widely praised for their belief in an ultimate resolution of racial conflicts. Graham died on September 11, 1989, in West Covina, California.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vols. 2, 63, 74; Something About the Author Autobiography Series, vol. 5; Children's Literature Review, vol. 10; Twentieth Century Children's Writers, 3rd edition, pp.394-395.