Mildred TaylorMildred TaylorWriterWriter

BackgroundBackground

• Born September 13, 1943, in Jackson, Born September 13, 1943, in Jackson, MississippiMississippi

• Family moved to Ohio after her birth, Family moved to Ohio after her birth, where her father held a factory jobwhere her father held a factory job

• Extended family followed them to OhioExtended family followed them to Ohio

BackgroundBackground

““Even though he lived in the North, Taylor’s father Even though he lived in the North, Taylor’s father nevernever stopped stopped loving the South and the family that loving the South and the family that remained behind in Mississippi, and throughout remained behind in Mississippi, and throughout TaylorTaylor’s ’s childhood, he regularly took his wife and childhood, he regularly took his wife and children to visit them. It was during those visits to children to visit them. It was during those visits to Mississippi that Taylor learned about family history and Mississippi that Taylor learned about family history and storytelling, both of which would, years later, become storytelling, both of which would, years later, become essential to her writing careeressential to her writing career.”

BackgroundBackground

““The telling of family stories was a regular feature of The telling of family stories was a regular feature of Taylor family gatherings. Family storytellers told about Taylor family gatherings. Family storytellers told about the struggles relatives and friends faced in a racist the struggles relatives and friends faced in a racist culture, stories that revealed triumph, pride, and culture, stories that revealed triumph, pride, and tragedy.”tragedy.” Chris CroweChris Crowe

BackgroundBackground

BackgroundBackground

• Her great grandfather was the son of a Her great grandfather was the son of a white plantation owner in Alabama and white plantation owner in Alabama and a slave womana slave woman

• In the late 1800s, this young man ran In the late 1800s, this young man ran away to buy land in Mississippiaway to buy land in Mississippi

• This land is still owned by the Taylor This land is still owned by the Taylor familyfamily

BackgroundBackground

• She attended newly integrated schools She attended newly integrated schools in Toledoin Toledo

• She graduated from University of She graduated from University of Toledo in 1965Toledo in 1965

• She joined the Peace Corps and spent She joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Ethiopiatwo years in Ethiopia

BackgroundBackground

• Upon returning to U.S., she earned a Upon returning to U.S., she earned a master’s degree from University of master’s degree from University of ColoradoColorado

• She settled in Los Angeles to pursue She settled in Los Angeles to pursue writing career writing career

BooksBooks

• First book—First book—Song of the TreesSong of the Trees—won the —won the Council on Interracial Books for Council on Interracial Books for Children Award in 1974Children Award in 1974

• Second novel—Second novel—Roll of Thunder, Hear Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryMy Cry—won 1977 Newbery Award—won 1977 Newbery Award

BooksBooks

• Nearly all events in her novels are Nearly all events in her novels are based on stories she has heard from based on stories she has heard from her father and other family members; her father and other family members; nearly all characters are based on nearly all characters are based on family members or acquaintances. The family members or acquaintances. The Logan family saga is Taylor family Logan family saga is Taylor family history.history.

Other BooksOther Books

• The LandThe Land

• The WellThe Well

• Mississippi BridgeMississippi Bridge

• Song of the TreesSong of the Trees

• The FriendshipThe Friendship

Other BooksOther Books

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryRoll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

• Let the Circle Be UnbrokenLet the Circle Be Unbroken

• The Road to MemphisThe Road to Memphis

• LoganLogan

ThemesThemes

• The importance of familyThe importance of family

• Land as a symbol of independenceLand as a symbol of independence

• Weather as an echo of human emotionsWeather as an echo of human emotions

• Hope in the face of destructionHope in the face of destruction

• Coming of ageComing of age

ThemesThemes

• Doing what you “gotta do”Doing what you “gotta do”

• Friendship at riskFriendship at risk

• Greed as a cause of hatredGreed as a cause of hatred

• Independence and self-respectIndependence and self-respect

““By the time I enteredBy the time I enteredhigh school, I had a drivinghigh school, I had a drivingcompulsion to paint a truer picturecompulsion to paint a truer pictureof Black people. . . I wanted to showof Black people. . . I wanted to showa Black family united in love and pridea Black family united in love and prideof which the reader would like to beof which the reader would like to bea part.”a part.” Mildred TaylorMildred Taylor