Eskridge, Ann E. 1949–

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Eskridge, Ann E. 1949–

PERSONAL: Born July 17, 1949, in Chicago, IL; daughter of Arnett E.V. and Marguerite (Hinds) Eskridge. Education: University of Oklahoma, B.A., 1971; Michigan State University, M.A., 1981; attended Ferris State College and Recording Institute of Detroit.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—17217 Fairfield, Detroit, MI 48221. Agent—Marie Dutton Brown, 625 Broadway, Ste. 902, New York, NY 10012.

CAREER: Chicago Daily Defender, Chicago, IL, reporter, summers, 1968–69; Oklahoma Daily, Norman, reporter, 1970; KWTV-Television, Oklahoma City, OK, reporter, 1970–71; WBEN-Television, Buffalo, NY, reporter, 1971–72; WXYZ-Television, Detroit, MI, reporter, 1972–76; freelance public relations agent, Detroit, 1976–78; executive assistant to the lieutenant governor of Michigan, 1978–79; administrator to the Michigan state treasurer, 1979–81, and for Michigan's Statewide Nutrition Commission, 1982–83; administrative assistant to Detroit Council President Erma Henderson, 1983; Golightly Vocational Technical Center, Detroit, instructor in mass media, 1983–90; freelance writer and teaching consultant, Detroit, 1990–92; Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, speechwriter, 1992–95; freelance writer, 1995–. Oklahoma Journal, reporter, 1970; conducted workshops for schools and other institutions, including a playwriting workshop for Urban Arts Corp., 1992; lecturer at local colleges. Michigan Film and Video Production Industry Council, former president; WTVS-Television, board member; Public Benefit Corp., former vice president.

MEMBER: Black Professionals in Film and Video (former vice president), Detroit Producers Association (former board member).

AWARDS, HONORS: Distinguished Service Award, Detroit City Council, 1974; Mayor's Award of Merit, City of Detroit, 1975; Alpha Kappa Alpha Award, 1975; grants from Detroit Public Education Fund and New Detroit, 1984–85, Michigan Council of the Arts, 1986 and 1988, Wayne County Intermediate School District, 1987–88, Women's Scriptwriting Project Funding Exchange, 1991, Center for New Television, 1992, and Arts Foundation of Michigan, 1992; award from National Black Programming Consortium, teen category, Ohio State University award, and award of distinction, Communications Excellence to Black Audiences, all 1991, for "Brother Future."

WRITINGS:

Brother Future (television special), first broadcast in the series Wonderworks, Public Broadcasting System, 1991.

The Sanctuary (for children), Cobblehill Books (New York, NY), 1994.

The Sanctuary (play; based in part on the author's book of the same title), Child's Play (West Orange, NJ), 1995.

Slave Uprisings and Runaways: Fighting for Freedom and the Underground Railroad (juvenile), Enslow Publishers (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 2004.

Contributor to periodicals, including American Visions, Michigan Chronicle, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and Monthly Detroit.

Also creator of commercials and industrial videotapes for Ford Motor Company, Wayne County Foster Care, Adult Well Being Services, and others.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A Black historical saga about a fictional Underground Railroad conductor.

SIDELIGHTS: Ann E. Eskridge once told CA: "I have worked as a television reporter, public relations consultant, political appointee, and teacher. Writing was an integral part of all the jobs I had. However, I didn't take my writing seriously until I began teaching high school students how to write for the media. I started writing about my students.

"One work produced in this period was Brother Future, a family movie. I have won numerous writing grants and was chosen to participate in various writing workshops. My first children's book, The Sanctuary, has received critical acclaim. Although I was born and raised in Chicago, I have made Detroit my home for many years. I hope to continue writing for television and for children."

Recently, Eskridge added: "Currently I'm teaching writing to college-age students. I am also working toward an M.F.A. in creative writing."