Vivian Elizabeth Ayers Allen, the Pulitzer Prize–nominated poet, playwright, and cultural activist—and mother of Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad—passed away on August 18, 2025. She was 102.
A Legacy in Words and Culture
Born in 1923 in Chester, South Carolina, Ayers was educated at the historic Brainerd Institute and later attended Barber-Scotia and Bennett College. She published Spice of Dawn (1952), nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and Hawk (1957), a visionary poem about space travel praised by NASA. Her work also appeared in Langston Hughes’ New Negro Poets, USA.
As a playwright, Ayers wrote Bow Boly, about an angel’s mission on Earth, and The Marriage Ceremony (1973), which highlighted communal traditions in African American marriages.
Educator and Cultural Advocate
Beyond her writing, Ayers became the first Black faculty member at Rice University and launched programs like “Workshops in Open Fields” to bring arts education to children. She later founded the ADEPT New American Museum in New York, spotlighting Black and Indigenous contributions to the arts.
Family and Lasting Influence
Ayers married Andrew Arthur Allen Sr. and had four children: musician Andrew “Tex” Allen Jr., actress and choreographer Debbie Allen, banking executive Hugh Allen, and actress Phylicia Rashad. Known as “Ma Turk,” she inspired generations with her commitment to art, education, and cultural preservation.
Her contributions earned honors from the National Council of Negro Women, Jack and Jill of America, and Winthrop University. Her poetry continued to resonate—performed on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and sampled by Solange on her 2019 album When I Get Home.
Vivian Ayers leaves behind a legacy that bridged poetry, theater, education, and culture—one that will continue to inspire generations.