Oscar Brown, Jr.'s Daughters Celebrate His Works at American Writers Museum

Maggie and Africa Brown, the singing duo known as the 2 Brown Sisters, recently joined the American Writers Museum (AWM) for "Oscar Brown Jr.’s Poetry as Theatre," a presentation on their father's legacy and writing. The program is part of the American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture series and exhibit.

Oscar Brown Jr., one of the greatest and most impactful Chicago storytellers who is considered a national treasure, would have turned 100 on October 10, 2026. As described by AWM Program Director Allison Sansone, Mr. Brown "used his words and music as instruments of truth, courage, and transformation. His career spanned theatre, television, film, and jazz, leaving a body of work that was all at once entertaining, revolutionary, and timeless."

​​Africa referred to her father as a "compulsive truth-teller who believed that words should move people...He didn't just write poetry, he embodied it." Maggie added, "He revolted with rhythm, language, and truth." Africa elaborated, "His poems challenged racism, poverty, war, hypocrisy, and injustice, but he never preached. He performed!"

Mr. Brown had a unique way of structuring his poems rhythmically and used cadences adapted from classic Shakespeare in much of his writing. He would captivate you with the sound of the blues while articulating the Black experience.

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Among his prolific and diverse collection of works is the 1977 musical "In De Beginning," a depiction of the Bible Book of Genesis creation story that exemplifies Mr. Brown's prophetic talents. According to Maggie, the story uses rich Negro dialect to take you on a soulful, spiritual journey. Written entirely in poetic verse, this stage production "blends scripture, jazz, gender politics, and humanity all in one theatrical experience," as Africa described it. "That's poetry in theatre!"

​Maggie and Africa performed a few verses from Mr. Brown's rendition of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer," reminding us of the way he masterfully crafted lyrics to pair with original instrumental music. Other such songs include "Afro Blue" (Sin & Soul album, 1960), which the audience heard in its entirety at the beginning of the program.

Mr. Brown is considered an early pioneer of rap, skillfully infusing socially conscious lyrics into his writing. He helped launch and advance the careers of many artists and others through his guidance and exposure to his works. Despite his influence on the culture as one of the most sampled artists, Mr. Brown was excluded from acknowledgments during the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop. He was, however, inducted into the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame in 2025 along with historian and educator Prof. Timuel Black and scientist and writer Harriette Gillem Robinet. This honor is a testament to the fact that his work remains relevant and will impact generations to come.

Maggie and Africa announced the re-release of the anthology What It Is: Poems and Opinions of Oscar Brown Jr., available online. Also, several events are being planned leading up to the culminating celebration of Mr. Brown's centennial year, which will take place on his birthday. For more information on Oscar Brown Jr. and his work, visit https://www.oscarbrownjr.org.

The American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture exhibit is on display throughout 2026. Visit https://exhibits.americanwritersmuseum.org/exhibits/american-prophets for details.