Ruby Dee

Hello! My name is Ruby Dee, but I was born Ruby Ann Wallace on October 27th, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio. When I was just a baby, my family moved to a vibrant neighborhood in New York City called Harlem. Growing up, I fell in love with words. I loved reading poems and stories and feeling how they could paint pictures in my mind. I studied hard in school because I knew that learning was a powerful tool. In 1945, I graduated from a wonderful school called Hunter College, where I studied different languages. My love for language and storytelling was preparing me for a life I couldn't yet imagine.

After college, I knew I wanted to be an actress. I joined a group called the American Negro Theatre, which was a special place for Black actors to practice their craft. It was there, around 1946, that I met a talented and kind actor named Ossie Davis. We became great friends, fell in love, and got married in 1948. We were partners in everything! I started acting in plays on the famous stages of Broadway. One of the most important roles of my life came in 1959. I played a character named Ruth Younger in a play called 'A Raisin in the Sun.' It was a powerful story about a Black family trying to achieve their dreams. It was one of the first times a story like ours was told on a big stage, and I was so proud to be a part of it.

Ossie and I believed that being actors gave us a special job to do. We didn't just want to entertain people; we wanted to help make the world a fairer place. During the 1960s, many people were working hard to make sure Black people in America were treated equally. This was called the Civil Rights Movement. We became good friends with leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. In 1963, we took part in a huge event called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. I even got to speak on stage! We used our voices to stand up for justice and equality because we knew that everyone deserved to be treated with respect and kindness.

My career lasted for many, many years. I acted in dozens of movies and television shows, always trying to choose roles that told meaningful stories. Ossie and I often worked together, and we were honored for our work in both acting and activism. In 2004, we received the Kennedy Center Honors, which is one of the greatest awards an artist can receive in America. A few years later, in 2007, I was nominated for an Academy Award for my role in the movie 'American Gangster.' I was in my 80s then! It just goes to show you that it's never too late to do what you love and be celebrated for it.

Ossie and I shared a beautiful life together for over 50 years. I lived a very full life and reached the age of 91. Today, people remember me not just for the characters I played on screen and stage, but for using my voice to fight for what is right. I hope my story inspires you to find what you are passionate about, to tell stories that matter, and to always use your own special voice to make the world a better, kinder place for everyone.