Author Archives: Richard Guzman

Ralph Ellison: Survival Blues

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Richard Guzman

During my long career, I’ve been lucky to meet many writers. Somewhere in the mid-70’s, for example, I met Peter Matthiessen shortly after I’d read his great non-fiction book The Snow Leopard and used it in one of my classes.  … Continue reading →

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Leon Forrest’s Divine Days

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Richard Guzman

In the Afterword to my book Black Writing from Chicago, the first person I apologize for not including is Leon Forrest.  I wrote: “First and foremost, I will immediately agree with anyone who believes omitting Leon Forrest is unforgivable.  Chair … Continue reading →

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Black Writers Picture Themselves – Part 1

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Richard Guzman

It all began some time in the early 60’s at New York’s famous club The Village Vanguard.  Burt Britton was tending bar, subbing for a friend, and one customer kept asking for more. It was Norman Mailer.  Britton tried to … Continue reading →

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