Eulalie Spence - Early Life

Early Life

Spence was born on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies on June 11, 1894, the oldest of seven girls. She spent her formative years on her father's sugar plantation. which was destroyed by a hurricane. and she moved to New York with her family in 1902. Because of her father's difficulty in finding steady employment, Spence and her family lived in meager circumstances in Brooklyn. Moreover, she was quite aware that West Indians were not welcomed by the indigenous black population. Despite these difficulties - there were six girls and two parents crowded in a small apartment - Spence had many positive influences, particularly from her mother. Spence's mother often read to her as a child, and the strong, independent nature she displayed, served as a model for Spence, both in her own life and in the female characters she created in her plays.