British-American writer and playwright Bonnie Greer dies at 77

Renowned British-American writer, playwright and commentator Bonnie Greer passed away on Tuesday evening at the age of 77 after a period of illness.

David Hutchins, her husband, confirmed the sad news. He stressed that Greer left an indelible mark on Britain’s cultural scene and public life through her sharp intellect, courage and unique voice, describing her as his life companion, most trusted person and source of inspiration.

Born on 16 November 1948 in the United States, Greer moved to the United Kingdom in 1986 and acquired British citizenship eleven years later, in 1997.

Her literary work was extensive and included novels, essays, plays and journalistic writings, often centering on the experiences of women and minorities. Her debut novel, “Hanging By Her Teeth”, reached readers in 1994 and followed the journey of an African American woman across the United States and Europe in search of her father. Later, she published “Obama Music” in 2009, the biography “Langston Hughes: The Value of Contradiction” dedicated to the Harlem Renaissance icon, as well as the memoir entitled “A Parallel Life”, which saw the light of publication in 2014.

Beyond literature, Greer was a constant and respected presence in British media. She contributed to newspapers such as The Guardian, The Independent and the New Statesman, while often appearing as a panelist on current affairs debate programmes like “Newsnight Review” and “Question Time”. It was on the latter that a particular episode in which she faced far-right leader Nick Griffin later became raw material for her opera titled “Yes”.

Her contribution also extended to education and arts institutions. She served on the boards of prestigious bodies such as the Royal Opera House, the British Museum and the London Film School, and was Chancellor of Kingston University in London.

In recognition of her dedication to the arts, in 2010 Greer was honoured with the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Further, in 2022, she was elected a full member of the Royal Society of Literature.

Following the news of her passing, writer Bernardine Evaristo remembered her as one of the most influential and prominent voices in addressing the culture of Black communities in Britain during the late last century and the start of the new millennium. For his part, former deputy prime minister David Lammy described her as an “extraordinary writer and artist”, also calling her “eloquent, the sort that makes you think” and “a truly living force”.

Her dearest ones, her husband concluded, will forever remember Bonnie’s warmth, laughter, kindness and rare talent for making people feel united.