معرفی
John Edgar Wideman is the Asa Messer Professor of Africana Studies and English at Brown University. He has held previous positions at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Wyoming, and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. A dual scholar and award-winning author, Wideman’s work bridges academic rigor and literary creativity. Born in 1941 in Pittsburgh, his upbringing in Homewood and Shadyside informs his exploration of African-American communities, family dynamics, and cultural preservation.
Education: BA in English (University of Pennsylvania, 1964), Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University (1964–1967), MFA from University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop (1967). His research focuses on storytelling as a cultural tool for marginalized communities, blending historical narratives with personal memoir. Wideman’s essays on figures like Malcolm X and Emmett Till appear in The New Yorker and Harper’s Magazine. He pioneered African-American literature courses and programs, advocating for inclusive curricula.
Award highlights include two PEN/Faulkner Awards (1984, 1990), a MacArthur Fellowship, and the Lannan Literary Fellowship. His works such as Brothers and Keepers and Fanon explore themes of race, identity, and historical memory. Wideman’s current project, The Louis Till Project, investigates the untold story of Emmett Till’s father. He remains active in creative writing pedagogy at Brown, mentoring students who have achieved literary success.
