Fran Ross (June 25, 1935 – September 17, 1985) was an American writer best known for her 1974 novel Oreo.[1] She briefly wrote comedy for Richard Pryor.[2]
Born on June 25, 1935, in Philadelphia, she was the eldest daughter of Gerald Ross, a welder, and Bernetta Bass Ross, a store clerk. Recognized for her scholastic, artistic and athletic talents, she earned a scholarship to Temple University after graduating from Overbrook High School at the age of 15.
Careeredit
Ross graduated from Temple University in 1956 with a B. S. degree in Communications, Journalism and Theatre.[1] She worked for a short time at the Saturday Evening Post. Ross moved to New York in 1960, where she applied to work for McGraw-Hill and later Simon & Schuster as a proofreader, working on Ed Koch's first book, among others.
Ross began her novel Oreo hoping for a career in writing, and it was published in 1974 at the height of the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s.[3] Ross's title comes from a white and black cookie, used as an ethnic slur in slang, mastery of whose American varieties is a feature of the novel, and employs the myth of Theseus to narrate the story of a black-Jewish girl searching for, and eventually exacting vengeance on, her father.[4]
Ross also wrote articles for magazines such as Essence, Titters and Playboy, and then got work on The Richard Pryor Show. She was unable to complete a second novel, due to difficulties supporting herself on this work. She worked in media and publishing until she died of cancer on September 17, 1985, in New York City.
^William Wilburt Cook; William W. Cook; James Tatum (April 1, 2010). African American writers and classical tradition. University of Chicago Press. pp. 4, 429. ISBN978-0-226-78996-5. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
^22 March 2006. "Traveling identities: mixed race quests and Fran Ross's Oreo.", African American Review
^Deavens, Danielle (August 3, 2015). "Your Must-Read Book of the Week: 'Oreo' by Fran Ross". Essence. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
^James, Marlon (July 7, 2018). "Oreo: Marlon James on a crazy, sexy, forgotten gem of black literature". The Guardian. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
December 15, 2023
fran, ross, june, 1935, september, 1985, american, writer, best, known, 1974, novel, oreo, briefly, wrote, comedy, richard, pryor, born, 1935, june, 1935philadelphia, pennsylvania, diedseptember, 1985, 1985, aged, york, city, occupationnovelist, comedy, writer. Fran Ross June 25 1935 September 17 1985 was an American writer best known for her 1974 novel Oreo 1 She briefly wrote comedy for Richard Pryor 2 Fran RossBorn 1935 06 25 June 25 1935Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S DiedSeptember 17 1985 1985 09 17 aged 50 New York City U S OccupationNovelist comedy writer journalistAlma materTemple UniversityGenreAfrican American literature satireNotable worksOreoEarly childhood editBorn on June 25 1935 in Philadelphia she was the eldest daughter of Gerald Ross a welder and Bernetta Bass Ross a store clerk Recognized for her scholastic artistic and athletic talents she earned a scholarship to Temple University after graduating from Overbrook High School at the age of 15 Career editRoss graduated from Temple University in 1956 with a B S degree in Communications Journalism and Theatre 1 She worked for a short time at the Saturday Evening Post Ross moved to New York in 1960 where she applied to work for McGraw Hill and later Simon amp Schuster as a proofreader working on Ed Koch s first book among others Ross began her novel Oreo hoping for a career in writing and it was published in 1974 at the height of the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s 3 Ross s title comes from a white and black cookie used as an ethnic slur in slang mastery of whose American varieties is a feature of the novel and employs the myth of Theseus to narrate the story of a black Jewish girl searching for and eventually exacting vengeance on her father 4 Ross also wrote articles for magazines such as Essence Titters and Playboy and then got work on The Richard Pryor Show She was unable to complete a second novel due to difficulties supporting herself on this work She worked in media and publishing until she died of cancer on September 17 1985 in New York City Oreo was rediscovered and republished in 2000 by Northeastern University Press with a new introduction by Harryette Mullen 5 6 Mat Johnson has hailed Ross s work as a masterpiece that was ahead of its time 3 Oreo was republished again in 2015 by New Directions 7 and in England in 2018 by Picador 8 References edit a b Ross Fran 2000 Oreo UPNE ISBN 1 55553 464 3 Senna Danzy May 7 2015 An Overlooked Classic About the Comedy of Race The New Yorker a b Johnson Mat 9 March 2011 Oreo A Satire Of Racial Identity Inside And Out You Must Read This NPR Retrieved March 10 2011 Danzy Senna An Overlooked Classic About the Comedy of Race The New Yorker May 7 2015 William Wilburt Cook William W Cook James Tatum April 1 2010 African American writers and classical tradition University of Chicago Press pp 4 429 ISBN 978 0 226 78996 5 Retrieved March 10 2011 22 March 2006 Traveling identities mixed race quests and Fran Ross s Oreo African American Review Deavens Danielle August 3 2015 Your Must Read Book of the Week Oreo by Fran Ross Essence Retrieved January 1 2021 James Marlon July 7 2018 Oreo Marlon James on a crazy sexy forgotten gem of black literature The Guardian Retrieved January 1 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fran Ross amp oldid 1177543178, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
