Andrew Salkey
Encyclopedia
Andrew Salkey was a novelist, poet
, freelance writer and journalist
of Jamaica
n and Haiti
an origin. Salkey was born in Panama
but was raised in Jamaica. He died in Amherst, Massachusetts
.
After completing his basic education in Jamaica, Salkey attended the University of London
and became a part of the West Indian Students Union (WISU), which provided an effective forum for Caribbean students to express their ideas and provided voluntary support to the "harassed" working-class Caribbean immigrant community, during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The association also included Gerry Burton, Arif Ali
, Chris LeMaitre, John La Rose
and Horace Lashley.
In the mid-Fifties he taught English at Walworth Secondary school (also known as Mina Road school), an early comprehensive just off the Old Kent Road
in South-east London.
Salkey published a number of novels over the course of his career. He was also a BBC
interviewer and a professor in writing at Hampshire College
in Amherst.
Salkey was good friends with Austin Clarke
, and the two had a long written correspondence, a great deal of which is available in Clarke's files at the McMaster University Archives in Hamilton, Ontario.
(from Escape To An Autumn Pavement)
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, freelance writer and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an origin. Salkey was born in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
but was raised in Jamaica. He died in Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
.
After completing his basic education in Jamaica, Salkey attended the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and became a part of the West Indian Students Union (WISU), which provided an effective forum for Caribbean students to express their ideas and provided voluntary support to the "harassed" working-class Caribbean immigrant community, during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The association also included Gerry Burton, Arif Ali
Arif Ali
Arif Ali was the regional product director for the Associated Press news agency in Europe, Middle East and Africa.-Career:He first became employed at the AP London bureau in October 1982 as a field service technician...
, Chris LeMaitre, John La Rose
John La Rose
John La Rose was a political and cultural activist, poet, writer, publisher, and Chairman of the George Padmore Institute...
and Horace Lashley.
In the mid-Fifties he taught English at Walworth Secondary school (also known as Mina Road school), an early comprehensive just off the Old Kent Road
Old Kent Road
The Old Kent Road is a road in South East London, England and forms part of Watling Street, the Roman road which ran from Dover to Holyhead. The street is famous as the equal cheapest property on the London Monopoly board and as the only one in South London....
in South-east London.
Salkey published a number of novels over the course of his career. He was also a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
interviewer and a professor in writing at Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
in Amherst.
Salkey was good friends with Austin Clarke
Austin Clarke
Austin Ardinel Chesterfield Clarke, is a Canadian novelist, essayist and short story writer who lives in Toronto, Ontario. Born in St...
, and the two had a long written correspondence, a great deal of which is available in Clarke's files at the McMaster University Archives in Hamilton, Ontario.
(from Escape To An Autumn Pavement)