Endesha Ida Mae Holland
Endesha Ida Mae Holland | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | January 25, 2006 | (aged 61)
Nationality | American |
Education | PhD. in American studies, University of Minnesota 1986 |
Occupation(s) | Activist, playwright, scholar |
Notable work | From the Mississippi Delta |
Endesha Ida Mae Holland (August 29, 1944 – January 25, 2006) was an American scholar, playwright, and civil rights activist.[1]
Early life
Born in Greenwood, Mississippi, Holland never knew her father and was raped at the age of 11.[2] Later she was expelled from school and became a prostitute.[3]
SNCC
Upon hearing that members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) had come to Greenwood, Holland sought out one of the male members in hopes of soliciting him for prostitution. The man, however, led her directly to the committee's office hoping to convince her to become involved. On witnessing the office operations, Holland found herself deeply impressed by the sight of African-Americans conducting themselves in such a businesslike manner and she began volunteering there.[2][3]
Holland's mother adamantly opposed her involvement with the SNCC, fearing reprisals from members of Greenwood's white community. In 1965 a fire broke out in the family's home, killing Holland's mother; Holland said afterward that she believed the Ku Klux Klan had indeed firebombed the house in retaliation for her civil rights work. In all, she was jailed thirteen times for her civil rights work. She got a high school equivalency diploma, encouraged by her colleagues in the civil rights movement.[1] She studied at the University of Minnesota beginning that year, where she helped start an African-American studies department, and initiated Women Helping Offenders (WHO), a prison-aid program.[2][3]
Education
In 1979 Holland earned a bachelor's degree in African-American studies from the University of Minnesota, followed by a master's degree in American Studies in 1984 and a PhD. in American studies in 1986.[1]
In 1981 she was awarded the $1,000 National
Arts
She was the author of six plays, and was most famous for writing From the Mississippi Delta, which was performed by the
A 1998 short documentary, Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland, was made about her.[4] She was interviewed as part of the 1994 feature documentary film Freedom on My Mind.
Family life
Holland was married three times; each union ended in divorce. Holland has one child, Cedric Holland.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Margalit Fox (February 1, 2006). "Endesha Ida Mae Holland, 61, Dies; 'Mississippi Delta' Writer". New York Times. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
- ^ a b c d "Endesha Ida Mae Holland profile". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
- ^ a b c d "Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Mississippi writer and playwright". Mswritersandmusicians.com. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
- ^ "Endesha Ida Mae Holland profile". imdb.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
External links
- SNCC Digital Gateway: Ida Mae Holland, Documentary website created by the SNCC Legacy Project and Duke University, telling the story of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee & grassroots organizing from the inside-out
- Endesha Ida Mae Holland Papers The archival collection contains materials related to Holland's work as a playwright and university professor, including correspondence, manuscripts, production materials, university- and teaching-related materials, publicity, and audio/visual materials.