Rose Poindexter

Rose Poindexter was an American stage actor/dancer working in New York and Europe, who occasionally appeared on film. In addition to being an actor, she was a politically active Communist. She was the first wife of author Ralph Ellison.

Poindexter was from Edgecombe Circle, home to many of New York's Black intellectual elite. She already had a blossoming career in two continents by the time she met and married Ellison in 1938. She continued her career during and after their marriage

In biographer Rampersad's assessment of Ellison's taste in women, he was searching for one "physically attractive and smart who would love, honor, and obey him--but not challenge his intellect." At first they lived at 312 West 122nd Street, Poindexter's apartment, but moved to 453 West 140th Street after her income shrank. In 1941 Ellison briefly had an affair with Sanora Babb, which he confessed to his wife afterward, and in 1943 the marriage was over.

Sources

• Hill, Michael D. & Lena M. Hill. Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man: A Reference Guide. ABC-Clio, p. 7.
• "Ralph Ellison." Wikipedia, revision of 27 August 2017. < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Ellison > Accessed 28 August 2017.