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Edward Silvera (1906-1937): Author Page

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Edward Samuel Silvera (1906-1937) was born in Indialantic, Florida, but grew up in Orange, New Jersey. He studied at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, and according to one biographical note studied medicine at Howard University. He began publishing poetry in venues like Opportunity and The Crisis while still an undergraduate at Lincoln University (class of 1928).

Silvera had two poems each included in the prominent anthologies, Caroling Dusk and Ebony and Topaz in 1927.

Four of Silvera's poems were collected in Langston Hughes' collection, Four Lincoln University Poets, which appeared in 1930. The four poems by Silvera in that volume are, "On the Death of a Child," "Song to a Dark Girl," "To Lincoln At Graduation," and "You." That volume also contains the following biographical note: 

EDWARD SILVERA, '28, is now in the department of medicine at Howard University. He was Colored Junior Tennis Champion for the State of New Jersey in 1923-24 and a member of the varsity basketball squad at college. His home is in Orange, New Jersey. His poems have appeared in The Crisis, Opportunity and Caroling Dusk.


In 1927, Silvera placed second in the literary contest sponsored by The Crisis, for his poem "Song to a Dark Girl." After 1930, his output seems to have declined, though we do see a poem authored by him called "Mother" in the June 1931 issue of The Crisis. 

Not much is known about Silvera's life after 1930, or the cause of his untimely death at age 31. Edward Silvera had a brother named John. D. Silvera (1909-2002), who was a successful lawyer in New York City, and later published books related to African American civil rights. In 1964, John D. Silvera established a creative writing prize at Lincoln University in his brother's name; that prize is described here. Edward also had a second brother named Renford Silvera, born in 1913 in New Jersey. 

Contents of this path:

  1. Edward S. Silvera, Biographical Note, "Caroling Dusk" (1927)
  2. Edward S. Silvera, "Black Glory Dead!" (1925)
  3. Edward S. Silvera, "Memory" (1926)
  4. Edward S. Silvera, "White Vanity" (1926)
  5. Edward S. Silvera, "Happiness" and "Death" (1926)
  6. Edward S. Silvera, "Jungle Taste" (1926)
  7. Edward S. Silvera, "On the Death of a Young Friend" (1926)
  8. Edward S. Silvera, "South Street" (1927)
  9. Edward S. Silvera, "Color" (1927)
  10. Edward S. Silvera, "Disappointment" (1927)
  11. Edward S. Silvera , "Song to a Dark Girl" (1927)
  12. Edward S. Silvera (Edward Silvera), "Washerwoman" (1927)
  13. Edward S. Silvera, "Old Maid" (1927)
  14. Edward S. Silvera, "Color" (1927)
  15. Edward S. Silvera (Edward Silvera), "Forgotten Dreams" (1927)
  16. Edward S. Silvera (Edward Silvera), "Virginia Memories" (1927)
  17. Edward S. Silvera, "The Unknown Soldier" (1927)
  18. Edward S. Silvera (Edward Silvera), "Slaves" (1927)
  19. Edward S. Silvera, "Fantasy in Black" (1928)
  20. Edward S. Silvera (Edward Silvera), "To D.T." (1928)
  21. Edward Silvera (Edward S. Silvera), "Beauty" (1928)
  22. Edward Silvera (Edward S. Silvera), "Harlem" (1928)
  23. Edward Silvera (Edward S. Silvera), "Introspection" (1928)
  24. Edward Silvera (Edward S. Silvera), "The Feast of Death" (1928)
  25. Edward Silvera, "Negro Composer" (1928)
  26. Edward Silvera (Edward S. Silvera), "You" (1930)
  27. Edward Silvera, "To Lincoln at Graduation" (1930)
  28. Edward Silvera, "On the Death of a Child" (1930)
  29. Edward Silvera (Edward S. Silvera), "Mother" (1931)

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