Bradford, Roark (1896-1948), was an American author known for his tales about Black life in the South. Many of Bradford’s stories deal with the folklore of rural African Americans living in Mississippi. Bradford, who was white, has been praised by critics for his skillful use of Southern Black speech patterns and slang and his sympathetic humor.
Bradford’s first book was the short-story collection Ol’ Man Adam an’ His Chillun (1928). It chiefly consists of Black folk interpretations of Old Testament stories. The stories were adapted into the popular religious play The Green Pastures (1930) by Bradford’s friend, American dramatist Marc Connelly. Bradford’s other collections of stories include Ol’ King David an’ the Philistine Boys (1930) and Let the Band Play Dixie (1934). His novels include This Side of Jordan (1929) and John Henry (1931).
Bradford was born on Aug. 21, 1896, in Lauderdale County, Tennessee. He died on Nov. 13, 1948.
