Creative Wizards, a companion to Proper Ladies: Selected African-American/Women of Color in the Fine & Lively Arts, gives a terse account of the artistic contributions to humanity by men of color from a global perspective. Emphasis has been fixed on the African based connection. However, the majority of the artists selected are African-American composers, performers, painters, sculpturists, photographers, and choreographers. Also, included are the available birth dates of each artist. The death date is not listed for the mere purpose to attempt to stimulate further research.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Otis D. Alexander has directed academic and public libraries in the District of Columbia, Virginia, Indiana, Texas, and Florida. Also, he has been a library manager in the Virgin Islands of the United States and the Republic of Liberia as well as the Dean of the Library Faculty at International University in Dominica. 

Alexander was commissioned to create original choreography that was set to the work of world-renowned poet, Audre Lorde, and performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. His paintings have been exhibited in the nation’s capital and Virginia; and Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, Egypt.

Alexander’s research has appeared in Virginia Libraries Journal, Scribner’s Encyclopedia of American Lives, African American National Biography, Still not equal: expanding educational opportunity in society, and ilovelibraries.org. In addition, excerpts from his doctoral dissertation, “Public Library Outlets Response to the Poor and Unemployed with Emphasis on Danville, Virginia,” appeared in Public Library Quarterly.

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