Edgar Sung

John Edgar Wideman, born in 1941, is a distinguished American writer whose work spans novels, short stories, memoirs, and essays. He is recognized for his innovative narrative techniques and a deep engagement with the complexities of African-American life in the United States. Wideman's literary output often delves into themes of race, family history, trauma, the nature of storytelling, and the pursuit of justice. His personal experiences, including the significant impact of his brother's incarceration, have profoundly shaped his literary explorations.

Wideman's academic career has been as notable as his writing. He has held professorships in literature and creative writing at various institutions, including prestigious Ivy League universities. He was the first author to win the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction twice, underscoring his significant contribution to contemporary literature. He is currently a professor emeritus at Brown University and resides in both New York City and France.

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1941, John Edgar Wideman's roots trace back to the era of American slavery. His family history includes ancestors who were enslaved and later relocated to Pittsburgh, where the Wideman family established a presence. His paternal grandfather was part of the Great Migration, moving from the South to Pittsburgh. Wideman's father worked diligently to support the family, enabling them to move to a predominantly white neighborhood, which allowed Wideman to attend a better high school. From a young age, Wideman demonstrated exceptional intelligence and excelled academically and as a student athlete. He attended the University of Pennsylvania on a scholarship, where he faced alienation due to racial dynamics, a period he later reflected on as feeling 'no place to hide.' Despite these challenges, he became a star basketball player, team captain, and earned academic accolades, including induction into Phi Beta Kappa. His achievements culminated in him becoming the second African American to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in 1963.

Upon returning from Oxford with a BPhil degree, Wideman engaged with the Iowa Writers Workshop before embarking on a teaching career. He began his academic tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also became involved in establishing African-American Studies programs and offered some of the university's first courses on the subject. His debut novel, 'A Glance Away,' was published in 1967, receiving critical acclaim for its depth and inventiveness. Subsequent novels like 'Hurry Home' and 'The Lynchers' further showcased his mastery of narrative technique and his willingness to tackle complex and often controversial aspects of the African-American experience, including racial ideology and systemic injustice. His writing is characterized by experimental approaches and a profound exploration of themes such as race, family bonds, the lasting effects of trauma, the power of narrative, and the search for justice within American society.

Wideman's literary work is deeply intertwined with his personal life, most notably the incarceration of his brother, an experience that significantly informed his writing, particularly in works like 'Brothers and Keepers.' This exploration of familial trauma and the justice system adds a layer of raw authenticity to his narratives. Throughout his career, Wideman has balanced his prolific writing with a distinguished academic path, teaching literature and creative writing at various universities. His contributions have been widely recognized, including being the only author to win the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction twice. He holds the title of professor emeritus at Brown University, continuing to influence literary and academic circles from his residences in New York City and France.

“he wouldn't want to be seen on the street alone with a white girl”

“when class breaks came, he would seldom walk to the next class with the white students”

“I was running away from Pittsburgh, from poverty, from blackness. To get ahead, to make something of myself, college had seemed a logical, necessary step; my exile, my flight from home began with good grades, with good English, with setting myself apart long before I'd earned a scholarship and a train ticket over the mountains to Philadelphia... if I ever had any hesitations or reconsiderations about the path I'd chosen, youall were back home in the ghetto to remind me how lucky I was.”

“no place to hide”

“that continually set me against them and against myself”