Grace Paley

Grace Paley (December 11, 1922 - ) is an American short story writer, poet, and political activist whose work has won a number of awards.

Political activism

Simultaneous with Paley's burgeoning fiction career, she began what would become a life-long commitment to political activism, particularly anti-militarization efforts. In the 1950s, Paley joined friends in protesting nuclear proliferation and American militarization; she also worked with the American Friends Service Committee to establish neighborhood peace groups, through which she met husband Robert Nichols.

Related Topics:
1950s - Nuclear proliferation - Militarization - American Friends Service Committee

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With the escalation of the Vietnam War, Paley's activism reached a new level. Paley joined the War Resisters League and came to national prominence as an activist when she accompanied a 1969 peace mission to Hanoi to negotiate the release of prisoners of war. She also served as a delegate to the 1974 World Peace Conference in Moscow and in 1978, was arrested as one of "The White House Eleven" for unfurling an anti-nuclear banner on the White House lawn.

Related Topics:
Vietnam War - War Resisters League - 1969 - Hanoi - Prisoners of war - 1974 - Moscow - 1978

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~