Ruby Dee

Hello, my name is Ruby Dee. I was born Ruby Ann Wallace on October 27th, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio, but the place I truly called home was Harlem, in New York City. My family moved there when I was just a baby, and the vibrant energy of the neighborhood shaped my entire world. Growing up, I fell in love with words and stories. My stepmother was a teacher, and she filled our home with poetry by great writers, which I absolutely loved to read aloud. This love of language and performance sparked a dream inside me: I wanted to become an actress. I was a determined student, and after graduating from the famous Hunter High School, I continued my education at Hunter College. In 1945, I earned my degree in French and Spanish. It was a proud achievement, but even with my diploma, my heart was still set on the stage.

My acting journey began in my own neighborhood at the American Negro Theatre in Harlem. It was a wonderful and essential place where Black artists could develop their talents and tell their own stories. My big break came in 1946 when I was cast in a Broadway play called 'Jeb.' That play changed my life forever because it was there that I met a tall, handsome actor with a powerful, booming voice named Ossie Davis. We became great friends almost immediately, and soon our friendship blossomed into love. We got married on December 9th, 1948, and from that day on, we were more than just husband and wife; we became true partners in art and in life. In those days, it was incredibly difficult for Black actors to find meaningful roles. Often, the parts offered were stereotypes, but I was determined to bring dignity and truth to every character I played. A perfect example was when I portrayed the amazing Rachel Robinson, wife of the baseball legend Jackie Robinson, in the 1950 film 'The Jackie Robinson Story.'

As my career grew, a role came along in 1959 that felt truly special and important. I was cast as Ruth Younger in the original Broadway production of 'A Raisin in the Sun' by Lorraine Hansberry. It was a groundbreaking and powerful play about a Black family's dreams, struggles, and enduring love in a world that often tried to hold them back. For Ossie and me, acting was never just a job; it was a platform and a responsibility. We believed we had to use our voices to speak out against the prejudice and unfairness we saw all around us. We became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, dedicating our time and energy to fighting for equality for African Americans. We were proud to call leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X our friends. Our commitment took us to one of the most important moments in American history when Ossie and I served as the masters of ceremonies for the historic March on Washington on August 28th, 1963. It was there that Dr. King delivered his unforgettable 'I Have a Dream' speech, and we felt the power of people coming together to demand justice.

My career spanned many decades, and I was incredibly fortunate to work on so many projects that I was proud of. I loved collaborating with new generations of artists, and in 1989, I appeared in the powerful film 'Do the Right Thing,' directed by the visionary Spike Lee. Ossie and I were often recognized for our work together, which was always special. We were honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1995 and, in 2004, we received the Kennedy Center Honors, which was an incredible and humbling moment for us. I never believed in slowing down, and even as I got older, I never stopped working. In 2007, when I was in my eighties, I was amazed and thrilled to be nominated for an Academy Award for my role in the film 'American Gangster.' That very same year, Ossie and I won a Grammy Award for a spoken word album we had recorded together. It was a beautiful and bittersweet reminder of the creative partnership that had defined our lives.

My dear Ossie passed on in 2005, after 56 wonderful years of marriage. He was my partner in every sense of the word, and I missed him dearly every day. But I knew that the work we had done together, on stage and in the fight for justice, had made a difference. I lived to be 91 years old, and my story came to a peaceful close on June 11th, 2014. I hope I am remembered not just as an actress, but as someone who used her voice to tell important stories and to fight for a better, more just world for everyone. My greatest hope is that you, too, will find what you are passionate about and use your own special voice to make the world shine a little brighter.