Shirley Graham DuBois

Shirley Graham DuBois (November 11 1896 – March 27 1977) was an American-born author, playwright, composer, and activist for African-American and other causes, as well as spouse of noted African-American thinker, writer, and activist W. E. B. DuBois.

Related Topics:
November 11 - 1896 - March 27 - 1977 - American - Author - Playwright - Composer - Activist - African-American - Thinker - Writer - W. E. B. DuBois

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She was born Lola Shirley Graham in Evansville, Indiana, in 1896, but often gave her age as up to ten years younger. Her father was a Protestant Christian minister, and the family moved often.

Related Topics:
Evansville, Indiana - Protestant - Christian - Minister

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She married her first husband, Shadrach T. McCants, in 1921, and divorced him in 1927. (In her memoir, however, she had asserted that she was widowed by 1925.) Their son Robert was born in 1923, followed by David in 1925.

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In 1929, Graham relocated to Paris, France, to study music composition. She reasoned that this education might allow her to achieve better employment and be able to better support her children.

Related Topics:
Paris - France

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Graham and DuBois married in 1951. They later emigrated to Ghana, where they received citizenship in 1961 and he died in 1963. In 1967 she was forced to leave after a military-led coup d'etat.

Related Topics:
Ghana - Citizenship - 1961 - 1963 - 1967 - Coup d'etat

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She moved to Cairo, Egypt, where she continued writing. Her surviving son accompanied her and worked as a journalist.

Related Topics:
Cairo, Egypt - Journalist

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Shirley Graham DuBois died of breast cancer on 27 March 1977, in Beijing,China.

Related Topics:
Breast cancer - 27 March - 1977

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