Black History is Oklahoma History

Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on May 25, 1938, novelist, poet, and playwright Joyce Carol Thomas was the daughter of Floyd D. and Leona Haynes. The family moved to California in 1948. The future writer was educated at San Francisco City College, the University of San Francisco, and San Jose State College (University), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1966. She completed a master’s degree at Stanford University in 1967. From 1969 to 1972 she was a professor of African American studies at San Jose State, and she has also served on the English faculty at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Purdue University. Twice married, Thomas has four children.