Who was Louise Meriwether? Cause of Death, Age, Wiki, Bio, Family, Career, Net Worth & More

On October 10, 2023, Meriwether, Louise, a well-known author and campaigner, passed away at the age of 100. She was best known for her book,” Daddy Was a Number Runner ,” which chronicled the Great Depression-era Black girl’s life in Harlem. Additionally, she wrote histories of Robert Smalls and Rosa Parks as well as other books that addressed issues of race, gender, and course. She participated in a number of social activities and won numerous honors for her efforts. She was raised in Harlem after being born in Philadelphia. She received her education at University of New York and has since worked as a social worker, professor, and journalist. She had four kids and two marriages.

Biography of Meriwether, Louise

Meriwether, Louise Early Life and Education

Meriwether, Louise was born in Haverstraw, New York, to Jenkins, Marion and Jenkins, Julia, who were both from South Carolina and migrated north in search of work after the stock market crash of 1929. Her father was a painter and bricklayer and her mother was a nurse. She was the only daughter and the third of five children. She grew up in Harlem during the Great Depression and witnessed the poverty and racism that plagued the Black community. She attended High School for Central Commercial in Manhattan and developed a passion for writing and literature. She graduated in 1942 and worked as a secretary for a few years before enrolling at University of New York in 1944 with the help of a scholarship. She studied English and graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Meriwether, Louise Family Details

Meriwether, Louise Career Highlight

Meriwether, Louise was a novelist, essayist, journalist and activist who wrote about the experiences of Black people in America. She published her first and most successful book, Daddy Was a Number Runner, in 1970, which was based on her childhood memories of growing up in Harlem during the 1930s. The novel was praised by critics and readers for its realistic and vivid portrayal of life in Harlem through the eyes of a young girl named Francie Coffin. The novel also addressed issues such as racism, sexism, violence, poverty and education that affected the Black community. The novel was considered a classic of African American literature and was compared to works by Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin³. The novel also inspired many young Black writers such as Jacqueline Woodson, who said: “It was one of those books that made me want to write.”

In addition, Meriwether wrote children’s biographies of well-known Black figures, including Robert Smalls: Sails to Freedom( 1981 ), The Heart Man: Dr. Daniel Hale Williams( 1978 ), and Rosa Parks, The Woman Who Changed a Nation( 1976 ). In addition, she wrote books about racial, gender, and class in the past and present, such as The Freedom Ship of Robert Smalls( 2007 ), a follow-up to her earlier biography of the same name, Shadow Dancing ( 1997 ), which was about an interracial romance between Black women and White men.

Meriwether was a blogger who contributed to the Los Angeles Times, Essence, Ms., The Crisis, and The New York Times among other blogs. She talked about issues like politics, culture, sexism, and civil rights. From 1965 to 1967, she even worked as a history analyst for Universal Studios in Hollywood. She was Hollywood’s second Black woman to be employed as a tale writer.

Meriwether was a longtime activist who took part in numerous peace, civil rights, and women’s rights movements. She supported Angela Davis’ test, joined the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr., and spoke out against the Vietnam War. Additionally, she was a founding member of the National Writers Union and jazz writers club.

Meriwether received many honors and awards for her literary and humanitarian work, such as the Cornell Icon of Industry Award, the Presidential Distinguished Service Award from Ireland, and the Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy. She also received honorary doctorates from several universities, such as University of New York, Medgar Evers College and Long Island University.

Meriwether passed away from old time on October 10, 2023, at the age of 100. She was survived by her four kids, nine great-grandchildren, and nine children. She was laid to rest at the Woodlawn Cemetery in New York’s Bronx.

Meriwether, Louise Physical Stats and More

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