Mebane, Mary E., 1933-1992

Mary E. Mebane (1933-1992) was an African American woman writer, born in Durham County, N.C., the daughter of a farmer and a factory worker. She received her B.A. in English and music from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) in 1955 and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught English and composition classes at North Carolina College, South Carolina State College, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is best known for two autobiographical volumes: Mary (1981), which discusses growing up in the South during segregation and her struggles with her family and the black community around her, and Mary, Wayfarer: an autobiography (1983), which recounts her years as a high school teacher, college instructor, Ph.D. candidate, and professor. In 1982, she was a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mary Elizabeth Mebane (1933-1992) was an African-American woman writer, primarily known for her autobiographical series about growing up in the American South, suffering from poverty, racism, and alienation from her family. She was born on the outskirts of Durham, North Carolina in 1933, her mother a tobacco factory worker, and her father sick most of the time. She received a B.A. from North Carolina College at Durham and a Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught at the University of South Carolina and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and was a frequent contributor to the op-ed page of the New York Times. Her autobiographical works are: Mary (Viking Press, 1981) and Mary wayfarer; an autobiography (Viking Press, 1983).

Mary E. Mebane (1933-1992) was an African American woman writer, born in Durham County, N.C., the daughter of a farmer and a factory worker. She received her B.A. in English and music from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) in 1955 and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught English and composition classes at North Carolina College, South Carolina State College, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is best known for two autobiographical volumes: "Mary" (1981), which discusses growing up in the South during segregation and her struggles with her family and the black community around her, and "Mary, Wayfarer: an autobiography" (1983), which recounts her years as a high school teacher, college instructor, Ph.D. candidate, and professor.