Sterling A. Brown's birth into Washington, DC's Black middle class in 1901 placed him squarely in the midst of what many considered to be a smug or pretentious existence. Despite the circumstances of his birth, however, Brown was unaffected by the classism that set him apart from the less fortunate members of his race. He emerged in the 1920s and 1930s as one of the most vigorous exponents of folk-based culture as a means for arguing for the authenticity, the very identity of the Black race. In Brown we find an example of one who took the privilege associated with his elite status and used it to excel – not for self-interest but for those denied their place in the world. For him, as well as for most members of his social class, education

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First published 04 July 2002

Citation: Tidwell, John Edgar. "Sterling A. Brown". The Literary Encyclopedia. 4 July 2002.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5046, accessed 9 February 2010.]