Shirley Graham DuBois (November 11 1907-March 1977) was an American author, playwright, composer, and activist for African-American and other causes; she received Ghanian citizenship in 1961.

She was born Shirley Graham in Evansville, Indiana; her father was a minister.

She married but was her husband died, leaving her with three children.

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

In 1951, Shirley Graham married W.E.B. DuBois. The two emigrated to Ghana, where they received citizenship. In 1967 she was forced to leave after a military-led coup d'etat.

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

Shirley Graham DuBois died of breast cancer in March 1977.

Quotes

• "We are a race of artists. What are we doing about it?"

~ "Towards an American Theatre" Arts Quarterly Oct-Dec 1937 [1]

Further Reading

Black Women in America An Historical Encyclopedia, 1993, Carlson Publishing Inc., Brooklyn, New York (ISBN 0-926019-61-9)

References

www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/ 1283/Artistic_activism_Shirley_Graham_DuBois