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Pauline Hopkins Wikipedia

Pauline Hopkins (born Elizabeth Hopkins 1859 – August 13, 1930) was a prominent early African-American novelist, journalist, playwright, and editor. She is considered a pioneer in her use of the romantic novel to explore social and racial themes. Her work is significantly influenced by W.E.B. DuBois.

Hopkins' earliest known work, Slaves' Escape, or the Underground Railroad (also known as Peculiar Sam), first performed in 1880, is one of the earliest-known literary treatments of slavery|slaves escaping to freedom. She explored the difficulties faced by African-Americans amid the racism|racist violence of post-United States Civil War|Civil War America in her first novel, Contending Forces, published in 1900. She published a number of serial novels over the next sixteen years as well as short story|short stories in African-American periodicals.

Hopkins died in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Last Modified:   2005-12-19