Himes_Chester

Chester Himes - (1909-1984)

Los Angeles

By Kenya Williams
San Pedro High School in San Pedro, California

Convicted of armed robbery, his only salvation was writing. He wrote to express the sorrow that was a constant friend. Out of the huts of shame he emerged to write about social protest, autobiographies, and popular crime thrillers. Nevertheless, he always dedicated his work to "racism." Its' strangling despair and pain it inflicts. His rage is tremendous, but it comes from a place every African American developed on the slave ships off of the coast of Africa.

I. Biography

Chester Himes was born on July 29, 1909, in Jefferson City, Missouri, and died November 12, 1984, of Parkinson's disease, in Moraira , Spain; son of Joseph Sandy (a teacher) and Estelle (a teacher; maiden name, Bomar) Himes; married Jean Lucinda Johnson, August 13, 1937 (divorced); married: wife's name, Lesley. Himes was born to socially acceptable parents, but was troubled due to constant fighting between a light and dark skinned parent, which served as a motivation in many of his novels. He attended Ohio State University for only two years before being expelled. He drifted into a life of crime, he was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to twenty years in Ohio State Penitentiary. He witnessed many beatings, killings, and a fire started by rioters that consumed the lives of over three thousand convicts.

Himes started to write short stories about his experiences. Esquire magazine soon accepted his works. He was released after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence. Himes worked for the Federal Writers Project, the labor movement, the Communist Party and the Cleveland Daily News.

II. Literary Works

If He Hollers, Let Him Go is loosely based on his experiences in the wartime industry during World War II. His main character, Bob Jones, a black foreman in a wartime shipyard, struggles along with other characters to get along in the white world. The emphasis again is on light-skinned blacks vs. dark-skinned blacks. H e speaks on hate, and the ignorance produced by racism. A white woman's secret attraction to Bob Jones, character and his lustful desire for her out of curiosity and mistrust. The inevitable down fall of a black man behind a white woman is the climax of a story rooted in passion and hatred.

III. Los Angeles, California and Chester Himes

In 1941, he set out for California, in search of profitable work in wartime industry. Government shipyards were known for fair hiring and employment. However, he found "Jim Crow" policies just like any other place.

Sunset Strip: located in Hollywood, California, famous for it's glamorous stars and superficial demeanor. Himes' main character travels this route while out on the town with his girlfriend Alice.

Culver City: located in Culver City, California, where the Fox Hills mall is located. It is also the city in which he works. Where he encounters much of the prejudice he discusses in his book.

Compton: located in Compton, California, adjacent to Carson, California, then and today a minority inhabited ghetto. A place his main character travels through, and relaxes while visiting friends.

San Pedro Street: located in South Central Los Angeles, California, adjacent to Central Ave., another place that his main character traveled through, while driving around or on his way to work.

IV. Literary Works

If He Hollers, Let Him GO
Lonely Crusade
The Quality of Hurt (autobiography)
Cotton Comes to Harlem
Blind Man With a Pistol
A Case of Rape
All Shot Up
Collected stories of Chester Himes

V. Obituary

Born July, 9 1909, in Jefferson City, Mo.; died of Parkinson's disease, November 12,1984, Moriara, Spain, Author. He was renowned, for his portrayal of the African American experience in the United States. He started his writing career in prison and used much of it as motivation for his literature. He dealt with racial oppression and was hailed in Europe by critics for their social commentary. He was a controversial writer, but nonetheless, a brilliant and passionate author. (All information provided under copyright by Gale Research.)

VI. Sources

This essay was submitted by a student of Grant Farley, a teacher at San Pedro High School in San Pedro, California.