Toni Cade Bambara
(1939–1995)
Toni Cade Bambara grew up in New York City and Jersey City. She began writing when she was still a child. She took the name Bambara from a signature she found in a sketchbook in her great-grandmother's trunk. (Bambara is the name of a people in northwest Africa who are noted for their delicate wood carvings.)
After earning a college degree from New York City's Queens College, Bambara studied in France and in Italy. In addition to pursuing a writing career, she worked as a social worker, a social investigator, a recreation director, a film writer and producer, and a college English teacher.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Bambara became active in civil rights issues. She lectured extensively and was involved in many neighborhood programs and community art groups.
Bambara edited two anthologies: The Black Woman (1970) and Tales and Stories for Black Folks (1971). In the introduction to the second collection, she explains that her main aim is to teach young African Americans the value of one of their great traditions—telling stories. She published two collections of her own stories: Gorilla, My Love (1972) and The Sea Birds Are Still Alive (1977). Her novel The Salt Eaters won the 1981 American Book Award. She also produced scripts for television and film.
Bambara focused on the lives and relationships of African Americans and used African American language dialects to bring her characters to life for her readers.
