Countee Cullen was born may, 1903
in New York. He was raised by his mother until he was thirteen. At
that age, he was adopted by Reverend Fredrick A. Cullen. In 1922, he attended
New
York University. Some of his earlier works included "I Have a Rendezvous
with Life" and "The Shroud of Color". He included these poems in his first
book, titled
Color (1925).
Cullen's poetry became very well
known during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's and 30's. Before leaving
to study in Paris in 1928, he became engaged to Nina Yolande DuBois, daughter
of W. E. B. DuBois. In 1929 he taught in the New York City Public Schools
until his death in 1946.