Biography
Walker was born in Washington, D.C, to Joseph A. Walker and Florine G. Johnson. He earned an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Howard University and completed all requirements except the thesis for a Masters in Philosophy. In 1957, he entered the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and later received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Drama from Catholic University. In his later years, he taught Drama at Howard University and served as chairman of the Theater Department at Rutgers University.
Walker was one of the first African Americans, along with Lorraine Hansberry, to win the Tony Award for best promising play, which he won for The River Niger. His efforts and talents drew him critical acclaim at the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) with Douglas Turner Ward as the artistic director. The River Niger's run was one of the NEC's longest consecutive runs. Other works include the drama District Line, Yin-Yang, The Harangues (Tribal Harangue 1, 2,and 3), The Lion is a Soul Brother, Out of the Ashes, Absolution of Willie Mae, Koulaba D. Haiti, and the musical King Buddy Bolden.
Read more about this topic: Joseph A. Walker (playwright)
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