Elsie Bernice Washington (December 28, 1942 – May 5, 2009) was an American author whose 1980 work Entwined Destinies has been considered the first romance novel written by an African-American author featuring African-American characters.
Elsie B. Washington
Born
Elsie Bernice Washington (1942-12-28)December 28, 1942 New York, U.S.
Washington was born in New York on December 28, 1942, to Samuel Washington and Kathleen Peterson Erby. She majored in English at the City College of New York, graduating with a bachelor's degree.
Careeredit
After completing college, she worked as a writer, and later as an editor, for several publications, including The New York Post, Essence, Life and Newsweek.[1]
Her one and only novel, Entwined Destinies, was published by Dell Publishing in 1980 under the pen name Rosalind Welles as the 575th in its "Candlelight Romance" series of books. The book, which tells the story of a female African-American magazine reporter who finds true love with an African-American oil executive, was described as "the first known romance featuring African-American characters written by an African-American author" in a 2002 issue of Black Issues Book Review.[1] By the time of Washington's death, several imprints were devoted to black romance novels, featuring books by authors such as Rochelle Alers, Beverly Jenkins and Sandra Kitt.[1]
In 1996, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called Washington the "mother of the African-American romance", setting the groundwork for a revolution in ethnic romance novels.[2] Washington's book was the first "ethnic romance", a category conceived by Vivian Stephens, an African-American editor at Dell, viewing the book as the first of other such books also aimed at Native Americans and Chinese Americans. The company published 125,000 copies of Washington's novel, primarily distributed in cities on the East Coast with large African-American populations.[3]
Washington also wrote two works of non-fiction, her 1974 book Sickle Cell Anemia, co-written with Anthony Cerami, and the Uncivil War: The Struggle Between Black Men and Women, published in 1996.[1] A 1998 article she wrote for Essence magazine received notice after she criticized the trend of African Americans who comported to "white standards of beauty" through the use of tinted contact lenses and other techniques.[1]
^Wikoff, Katherine. "'Mother of ethnic romance' treated genre seriously", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 7, 1996. Accessed May 18, 2009.
^Walters, Ray. "PAPERBACK TALK", The New York Times, July 13, 1980. Accessed May 18, 2009.
January 01, 1970
elsie, washington, elsie, bernice, washington, december, 1942, 2009, american, author, whose, 1980, work, entwined, destinies, been, considered, first, romance, novel, written, african, american, author, featuring, african, american, characters, bornelsie, ber. Elsie Bernice Washington December 28 1942 May 5 2009 was an American author whose 1980 work Entwined Destinies has been considered the first romance novel written by an African American author featuring African American characters Elsie B WashingtonBornElsie Bernice Washington 1942 12 28 December 28 1942New York U S DiedMay 5 2009 2009 05 05 aged 66 New York New York U S OccupationNovelist journalistAlma materCity College of New YorkPeriod1980GenreromanceNotable worksEntwined Destinies Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Death 4 ReferencesEarly life and education editWashington was born in New York on December 28 1942 to Samuel Washington and Kathleen Peterson Erby She majored in English at the City College of New York graduating with a bachelor s degree Career editAfter completing college she worked as a writer and later as an editor for several publications including The New York Post Essence Life and Newsweek 1 Her one and only novel Entwined Destinies was published by Dell Publishing in 1980 under the pen name Rosalind Welles as the 575th in its Candlelight Romance series of books The book which tells the story of a female African American magazine reporter who finds true love with an African American oil executive was described as the first known romance featuring African American characters written by an African American author in a 2002 issue of Black Issues Book Review 1 By the time of Washington s death several imprints were devoted to black romance novels featuring books by authors such as Rochelle Alers Beverly Jenkins and Sandra Kitt 1 In 1996 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called Washington the mother of the African American romance setting the groundwork for a revolution in ethnic romance novels 2 Washington s book was the first ethnic romance a category conceived by Vivian Stephens an African American editor at Dell viewing the book as the first of other such books also aimed at Native Americans and Chinese Americans The company published 125 000 copies of Washington s novel primarily distributed in cities on the East Coast with large African American populations 3 Washington also wrote two works of non fiction her 1974 book Sickle Cell Anemia co written with Anthony Cerami and the Uncivil War The Struggle Between Black Men and Women published in 1996 1 A 1998 article she wrote for Essence magazine received notice after she criticized the trend of African Americans who comported to white standards of beauty through the use of tinted contact lenses and other techniques 1 Death editA resident of Yonkers New York Washington died in Manhattan at the age of 66 on May 5 2009 due to multiple sclerosis and cancer She was survived by her parents and a brother 1 References edit a b c d e f Fox Margalit Elsie B Washington a Novelist Dies at 66 The New York Times May 16 2009 Accessed May 18 2009 Wikoff Katherine Mother of ethnic romance treated genre seriously Milwaukee Journal Sentinel January 7 1996 Accessed May 18 2009 Walters Ray PAPERBACK TALK The New York Times July 13 1980 Accessed May 18 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elsie B Washington amp oldid 1217646797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
