Date of Birth: February 22, 1938
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Biography
Ishmael Reed is an American poet, novelist, essayist, and playwright, best known for his satirical works that challenge the conventions of American literature and culture. Born on February 22, 1938, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Reed grew up in Buffalo, New York. He attended the University of Buffalo but left before completing his degree. Reed moved to New York City in the early 1960s, where he became an integral part of the literary scene in the Lower East Side and co-founded the East Village Other, an underground newspaper. Reed’s work is noted for its eclectic style, blending elements of African-American culture, folklore, history, and jazz improvisation. Among his numerous acclaimed works are the novels “Mumbo Jumbo” and “The Last Days of Louisiana Red,” and the poetry collections “Conjure: Selected Poems, 1963-1970” and “New and Collected Poems, 1964-2006.” Reed has received many awards throughout his career, including the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship.
5 Interesting Facts about Ishmael Reed
1. Ishmael Reed is a co-founder of the Before Columbus Foundation, which promotes multicultural literature.
2. Reed has taught at various universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth.
3. He was awarded the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship in 1998.
4. Reed’s novel “Mumbo Jumbo” is considered a seminal work of African-American literature and postmodernism.
5. In addition to his literary work, Reed is a jazz musician and has released several albums.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ishmael Reed
1. “Writin’ is fightin’.”
2. “The public is wiser than the critics.”
3. “I’ve always believed that you write to discover what you believe.”
4. “Poetry is the language in which man explores his own amazement.”
5. “My work holds up the mirror to hypocrisy, pretension, and self-righteousness.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Ishmael Reed’s net worth was estimated to be around $2 million.
Children
Ishmael Reed has two children: Timothy Reed and Tennessee Reed. Tennessee Reed is also a writer and has published several books of poetry.
Relevant Links
1. [Ishmael Reed’s Biography on Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ishmael-Reed
2. [Poetry Foundation – Ishmael Reed](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ishmael-reed
3. [MacArthur Foundation Profile](https://www.macfound.org/fellows/590/
