Ann Petry (1908 – 1997) is best known for being the first African-American woman to produce a book whose sales would top a million copies. The Street ultimately sold a million and a half copies. A gritty story of a single mother raising a son in Harlem, it brought its author much praise and a little notoriety.

Her writing career began in earnest in 1938 when she moved from her native Connecticut to Harlem. There she worked as a journalist, columnist, and editor as well as participating in Harlem’s American Negro Theatre. She had three novels and several children’s books published. Here are 6 interesting facts about Ann Petry, a classic American author who deserves to be more widely read. Read More→