Dove, Rita (1952–)

American writer. Born Aug 28, 1952, in Akron, Ohio; dau. of Ray A. Dove (1st African-American chemist to break racial barrier in tire and rubber industry) and Elvira Elizabeth (Hord) Dove; Miami University of Ohio, BA in English, 1973; attended Tubingen University; University of Iowa, MFA, 1977; m. Fred Viebahn (German writer, journalist), 1979; children: Aviva Chantal Tamu Dove-Viebahn.

The 1st African-American poet laureate of US (as well as the youngest), published 1st poetry collection The Yellow House on the Corner (1980); won Pulitzer Prize for Thomas and Beulah, a collection of poems loosely based on grandparents' life (1987); taught creative writing at Arizona State University (1981–89); was writer-in-residence at Tuskegee Institute (1982); served as chair and Commonwealth Professor of English at University of Virginia in Charlottesville; appointed Poet Laureate of US (1993) and Consultant in Poetry at Library of Congress, the highest honor in American letters; collaborated with musicians on various works, such as Alvin Singleton's symphonic piece Umoja—Each One of Us Counts for symphony orchestra and narrator (1996), as well as with composers Tania León (1996), Bruce Adolphe (1997) and John Williams (1998); edited anthology Best American Poetry (2000); wrote weekly column "The Poet's Choice" for The Washington Post (2000–02); appointed Poet Laureate of Virginia (2004); poetry collections include Grace Notes (1989), Mother Love (1995), On the Bus with Rosa Parks (1999) and American Smooth (2004); also published (short stories), Fifth Sunday (1985), (novel) Through the Ivory Gate (1992), (verse drama) The Darker Face of the Earth (1994), and The Poet's World (1995), a book of laureate lectures.