Joseph A. Walker became one of the most honored black playwrights of the 1970s when his 1973 play The River Niger won an Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award, the Dramatist Guild's Elizabeth Hull-Kate Warriner Award, the First Annual Audelco Award, the Outer Circle's John Gassner Award, a Village Voice Off-Broadway (Obie) Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Black Rose. In addition to being a playwright, Walker has directed, choreographed, and produced stage presentations. He wrote the screenplay for the 1976 film version of The River Niger, and he has acted on television and in movies as well as on the stage.

Walker was born in Washington, D.C., to Joseph Walker, a house painter, and Florine Walker. His own description of his birth indicates two strong influences on his subsequent career, his parents and astrology: "Born 6:44 p.m. on February 24, 1935, under the sun sign of Pisces, moon in Scorpio, rising...