Countee Cullen was born on May 30, 1903 in New York. He had a pretty rough childhood. He lost his parents and brother and was first raised by his grandmother until she died. He was then raised in a Methodist parsonage. He began writing poetry and the age of 14 while he was attending De Witt Clinton High School. He went to New York University in 1922. The Crisis, Harper and the Opportunity published his poetry. He won many awards for his poems and he graduated collage in 1923. He attended Harvard to finish up his master's degree. Cullen was raised in a mainly white neighborhood and he differed from many other people in the Harlem Renaissance. Countee Cullen died on January 9, 1946.
Click the buttons to read some of Countee Cullen's fine work back in the day.