John Oliver Killens, an influential African American novelist, was born on this day in Macon, Georgia. Killens was a co-founder of the Harlem Writers Guild and a key voice in the Black Arts Movement. His novels, including Youngblood and And Then We Heard the Thunder, addressed themes of racial injustice, Black pride, and social activism. His work remains a cornerstone of 20th-century African American literature.
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