Charlie L. Russell
Encyclopedia
Charlie Louis Russell, Jr. (March 10, 1932—) is a writer, best known for his play, Five on the Black Hand Side
, which was later made into an acclaimed motion picture.
, the eldest of two children of Charlie, Sr. and Katie Russell. His father moved to Oakland, California
, in 1942 and became a shipyard worker. The family was reunited with the father a year later. Charlie and his younger and more famous brother, basketball legend Bill Russell
, attended local Oakland schools. Charlie graduated from Oakland Technical High. His interest in writing was sparked while a student at Santa Rosa Junior College.
After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, Russell earned a B.S. in English from the University of San Francisco
in 1959. Graduate studies followed a few years later, receiving a Masters in Social Work in 1966 from New York University. Still active as a writer, from 1963 to 1970, Russell was a member of The Harlem Writers Guild, led by John Oliver Killens
.
His play, Five on the Black Hand Side premiered in 1969. Russell later adapted the play into a film, which was released by United Artists
in 1973. While not a box office hit, the film was highly praised and established a cult following. It received an NAACP Image Award
for best screenplay. Ebony Magazine also recognized Five on the Black Hand Side, as one of the ten best African American
films of all time.
In the early 1970s, Russell served as writer in residence at Barbara Ann Teer
's National Black Theatre in Harlem.
Russell's other works include the novella, A Birthday Present for Katheryn Kenyatta and "Quietus," a short story published in Langston Hughes
' Best Negro Short Stories.
In 1986, he earned his M.EA. from the University of California at San Diego.
The father of two children (Katheryn and Joshua), Russell currently resides in Oakland, California
.
Five on the Black Hand Side
Five on the Black Hand Side is a 1973 comedy film based on the play by Charlie L. Russell. It was shot in Los Angeles. Leonard Jackson appeared as John Henry Brooks. He was cast in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple fifteen years later. Its tagline was "You've been coffy-tized, blacula-rized and...
, which was later made into an acclaimed motion picture.
Biography
Charlie L. Russell was born in Monroe, LouisianaMonroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
, the eldest of two children of Charlie, Sr. and Katie Russell. His father moved to Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, in 1942 and became a shipyard worker. The family was reunited with the father a year later. Charlie and his younger and more famous brother, basketball legend Bill Russell
Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
, attended local Oakland schools. Charlie graduated from Oakland Technical High. His interest in writing was sparked while a student at Santa Rosa Junior College.
After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, Russell earned a B.S. in English from the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
in 1959. Graduate studies followed a few years later, receiving a Masters in Social Work in 1966 from New York University. Still active as a writer, from 1963 to 1970, Russell was a member of The Harlem Writers Guild, led by John Oliver Killens
John Oliver Killens
John Oliver Killens was a black American fiction writer whose novels of African American life received two Pulitzer Prize nominations.-Early life and education:...
.
His play, Five on the Black Hand Side premiered in 1969. Russell later adapted the play into a film, which was released by United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
in 1973. While not a box office hit, the film was highly praised and established a cult following. It received an NAACP Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
for best screenplay. Ebony Magazine also recognized Five on the Black Hand Side, as one of the ten best African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
films of all time.
In the early 1970s, Russell served as writer in residence at Barbara Ann Teer
Barbara Ann Teer
Dr. Babara Ann Teer was an American writer, producer, teacher, actor and visionary, African-American Barbara Ann Teer grew disillusioned with the negative stereotypes she came across in her quest for responsible acting roles. Instead of simply walking away from the white-dominated entertainment...
's National Black Theatre in Harlem.
Russell's other works include the novella, A Birthday Present for Katheryn Kenyatta and "Quietus," a short story published in Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance...
' Best Negro Short Stories.
In 1986, he earned his M.EA. from the University of California at San Diego.
The father of two children (Katheryn and Joshua), Russell currently resides in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.