Sapphire

Poet

Birthday August 4, 1950

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace California

Age 74 years old

#179,986 Most Popular

About

Notable as a novelist, poet, and spoken-word artist, Sapphire is most well known for her 1996 novel Push and for her 1994 poetry collection American Dreams. The former work became the basis for the critically-acclaimed film Precious (released in 2009).

Before Fame

After attending the City Colleges of San Francisco and New York, she received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Brooklyn College.

Trivia

She published her third full-length poetry collection, Black Wings & Blind Angels: Poems, in 1999.

Family Life

Born Ramona Lofton, she grew up in a military family and spent her childhood in numerous locations. At the age of eight, she tragically suffered abuse at the hands of her father.

Associated With

Actress Monique won an Oscar for her portrayal of the title character's mother in the film (Precious) based on Sapphire's autobiographical novel Push.