Pearl Cleage was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on December 7th 1948, Pearl Michelle Cleage grew up knowing she wanted to be a writer from as young as two years old.
However, as an African-American woman, Cleage had to overcome more than a few challenges to become the creative powerhouse we know today. It would be disingenuous to credit destiny with her triumphs rather than her own grit, determination, self-belief, and incredible talent.
Early empowerment
Pearl Cleage was born as the second daughter to Doris Cleage (née Graham) and Albert B. Cleage Jr. Her father, famous in his own right as the founder of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church and the Shrine of the Black Madonna, had radical ideas which caused the family to move from Springfield to Detroit, Michigan, where he could more freely preach the gospel of his church. Here, he was able to preach not only the gospel but his core message of black empowerment.
In a move that would reverberate through the young Cleage’s life for years to come, Reverend Albert Cleage became a leading light in the civil rights movement – we can be sure that this did some work in prompting his watchful daughter’s own activism later in life. Seeing prominent civil rights leaders pass through her home on the way to rallies, she learned the importance of writing and speaking as a way of sharing an important story and an even more important message.
It is also worth noting that her mother was an elementary school teacher and her commitment to education had a significant impact on Cleage’s lifelong love affair with the written word.
Always learning
A curious child, Cleage was on the lookout for great stories from an early age. She was educated in Detroit public schools, from which she graduated in 1966. From there, she studied at Howard University in Washington, D.C from 1966 until 1969. Still a committed and passionate writer above all, Cleage dedicated her studies to playwriting, composing two one-act plays during her studies.
Moving on to the drama side of things, she relocated to Atlanta and studied at the prestigious Spelman College, where she gained her Bachelor’s degree in drama in 1971. A lover of learning, Cleage then moved on to graduate school in Atlanta. During this time, she also married the politician Michael Lomax, keeping her firmly within the political realm in which she was raised.
Limitless potential
Atlanta in the 1970s was crackling with energy. Figureheads in the black community were trying
to make significant changes, and Cleage had the talent and passion necessary to become part of this world. Before dedicating herself to her creative writing, Cleage threw herself into this heady environment by becoming the speechwriter and press secretary for Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first black mayor.
While this work spoke to her political leanings and beliefs, Cleage was first and foremost a writer, so she struggled writing the thoughts and feelings of another person. For such a free creative spirit, the role was far too constrained, and Cleage soon left to pursue her true dream of becoming an author.
What a wonderful choice it was – for both Cleage and the world that would now get to read her authentic truth, for over 40 years (and still going strong).
Cleage went on to write multiple novels, including What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day in 1997, which was selected for the Oprah Winfrey Book Club and made Cleage a well-known name outside African-American creative circles. Beyond this glowing achievement, Cleage has also written a number of plays, essays, and poetry, which focus primarily on issues of race and gender.
She has held many positions at theatres and institutions, making her one of a small group of African-American women who are leading members of the theatre community. Alongside this incredible achievement, she has also published several journalistic pieces of writing, published across well-known newspapers and magazines. Besides this, Cleage is an incredible public speaker who has given lectures on writing, politics, and more.
A proud non-conformist, Cleage’s work spans genres, times and a range of challenging topics and continues to touch lives today. Covering topics as diverse and relevant as AIDS, domestic violence, racism and sexism, her investigations into very human lives are as relevant as ever.
A woman for our time
Cleage’s work has gained positive popular and critical reception and has had a broad impact on the community she loves – but even beyond this, her reach continues to expand as her novels and plays remain relevant with each passing year.
As she moves into the next phase of her creative life, Cleage continues to grow and change as a creative, adapting to many different mediums beyond the traditional written word. Most recently, she has had a radio play, Digging in the Dark, commissioned by Keen Company in its Hear/Now Audio Theatre season.
Cleage remains hopeful and positive about what is to come as she creates new work – it seems that she has never stopped believing what she wrote in her book, Some Things I Never Thought I’d Do: “Buying flowers is not just a way to bring home beauty. It’s an expression of confidence that better days are coming. It’s a defiant finger in the face of those naysayers who would have you believe your fortunes will never improve.”
Enthusiastic about continuing to reach out creatively in these tumultuous times, Cleage’s writing is sure to keep finding new readers, watchers and listeners for years to come.