The HistoryMakers

Author Khephra Burns was born October 2, 1950. His body of work includes several acclaimed books, as well as works for public and commercial television, for magazines, and for the stage. After graduation from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a bachelor's in English literature and drama, he moved to New York City began a career writing in many genres.

In 1978, Burns begin working for a PBS television affiliate, WNET-Thirteen, as a writer and associate producer. While working with producer Ellis Haizlip, he wrote one of the first series of salutes to outstanding African Americans to be televised for Black History Month. In 1981, he was commission by Harry Belafonte to write Stackalee, a full- length stage drama. In 1987, continuing his work in television Burns was the scriptwriter for "New Orleans, The Big Easy," and "Black Men in Dance," both for the nationally syndicated weekly television show, Essence, CBS.

Burns is the author of several books, Black Stars in Orbit, Mansa Musa, and Confirmation: The Spiritual Wisdom that has Shaped Our Lives, which he wrote with his wife Susan Taylor. He also contributes to several monthly publication including Essence Magazine, Art & Auction and the Boulé Journal.

As a playwright, Burns has written African Odyssey, which premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in 1997, and Tall Horse, which has played across South Africa and premiered in New York at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival in 2005.

Burns resides in New York City with his wife, Susan Taylor.

Burns was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on September 13, 2005.