Julian Mayfield
Encyclopedia
Julian Hudson Mayfield was an American
actor, director, writer, lecturer and Civil Rights activist.
, South Carolina
and was raised from the age of five in Washington
. Mayfield joined the US Army
in 1947 before studying at Lincoln University
in Pennsylvania.
during 1949-50, before producing his own play Fire in 1951 and directing Ossie Davis
' play Alice in Wonder in 1952.
Mayfield moved to Puerto Rico in 1954 with his wife, Ana Livia Cordero, and while there published three novels - The Hit (1957), The Long Night (1958) and The Grand Parade (1961). Returning to the U.S.A., Mayfield became involved with militant NAACP leader Robert F. Williams
. After a fatal confrontation in Monroe, N.C.
at the end of August, 1961, when Freedom Riders were attacked. In this explosive situation a white couple was abducted and sheltered by Williams, which was seen as kidnapping by the FBI. Williams fled to Cuba and Mayfield to Ghana, where he became writer-in-office of President Kwame Nkrumah
in 1961, and edited the African Review, a political and economical journal. He established the international branch of the Organization of Afro-American Unity
, and published a collection called Young Americans Abroad in 1963. Mayfield left Ghana in 1965. later lived in Spain, before returning to America to co-write and act in the 1968 film Up Tight!
Mayfield was then an aide to Forbes Burnham
, the President of Guyana, between 1971 and 1974.
Over his lifetime, Mayfield lectured at Cornell University
, New York University
, University of Maryland, College Park
and Howard University
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, director, writer, lecturer and Civil Rights activist.
Early life
Julian Hudson Mayfield was born on 6 June 1928 in GreerGreer, South Carolina
Greer is a city in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, between the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg. The population was 25,515 at the 2010 census. It is projected to hit 30,000 within 4 years. Each day, more than three times that number of people pass...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and was raised from the age of five in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Mayfield joined the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1947 before studying at Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...
in Pennsylvania.
Career
Mayfield began his career in theatre, playing the role of Absalom Kumalo in the musical Lost in the StarsLost in the Stars
Lost in the Stars is a musical with book and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson and music by Kurt Weill, based on the novel Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton...
during 1949-50, before producing his own play Fire in 1951 and directing Ossie Davis
Ossie Davis
Ossie Davis was an American film actor, director, poet, playwright, writer, and social activist.-Early years:...
' play Alice in Wonder in 1952.
Mayfield moved to Puerto Rico in 1954 with his wife, Ana Livia Cordero, and while there published three novels - The Hit (1957), The Long Night (1958) and The Grand Parade (1961). Returning to the U.S.A., Mayfield became involved with militant NAACP leader Robert F. Williams
Robert F. Williams
Robert Franklin Williams was a civil rights leader, the president of the Monroe, North Carolina NAACP chapter in the 1950s and early 1960s, and author. At a time when racial tension was high and official abuses were rampant, Williams was a key figure in promoting both integration and armed black...
. After a fatal confrontation in Monroe, N.C.
Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 36,397 as of the 2010 census. It is the seat of government of Union County and is also part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Metropolitan area.-Geography:...
at the end of August, 1961, when Freedom Riders were attacked. In this explosive situation a white couple was abducted and sheltered by Williams, which was seen as kidnapping by the FBI. Williams fled to Cuba and Mayfield to Ghana, where he became writer-in-office of President Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
in 1961, and edited the African Review, a political and economical journal. He established the international branch of the Organization of Afro-American Unity
Organization of Afro-American Unity
The Organization of Afro-American Unity was a Pan-Africanist organization founded by Malcolm X in 1964. The OAAU was modeled on the Organisation of African Unity, which had impressed Malcolm X during his visit to Africa in April and May 1964...
, and published a collection called Young Americans Abroad in 1963. Mayfield left Ghana in 1965. later lived in Spain, before returning to America to co-write and act in the 1968 film Up Tight!
Up Tight!
Up Tight! is a 1968 American drama film directed by Jules Dassin. It was intended as an updated version of John Ford's 1935 film, The Informer, but the setting was transposed from Dublin, Ireland to Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The soundtrack was performed by Booker T...
Mayfield was then an aide to Forbes Burnham
Forbes Burnham
Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was the leader of Guyana from 1964 until his death, first as Premier from 1964 to 1966, then as the Prime Minister from 1966 to 1980 and finally as President from 1980 to 1985....
, the President of Guyana, between 1971 and 1974.
Over his lifetime, Mayfield lectured at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
.