1948: Graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans.
Died just days after receiving Emmy award for "The Practice" (1997), which was accepted for her by Lisa Gay Hamilton and delivered to Vicksburg.
Father was a Baptist minister and mother a seamstress.
For her work on the legitimate stage, she was honored with the Paul Robeson Pioneer Award and was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
Married for three years to an African-American sculptor.
One of her poems, "Keep Climbing, Girls", has been turned into a picture book inspiring girls' power. Published 2006 by Simon & Schuster.
Stage: Appeared in James Baldwin's "The Amen Corner" on Broadway in 1965, for which she received a Tony nomination as Best Actress (Dramatic).