Anthony “Tony” M. Grooms is an award-winning author, poet, and educator whose work explores the complexities of race, history, and identity in America. Born on January 15, 1955, in Louisa, Virginia, Grooms grew up as the eldest of six children. His parents, committed to education, enrolled him in the Freedom of Choice plan in 1967, an early attempt at racial integration in Virginia’s public schools. This experience profoundly influenced his perspective on race and identity, themes that resonate throughout his writing.
Grooms earned a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and speech from the College of William and Mary in 1978, where he developed his love for storytelling through playwriting. He went on to receive an M.F.A. in English from George Mason University in 1984, solidifying his dedication to creative writing. In 1988, Grooms moved to Atlanta, where he began teaching and found inspiration in the American civil rights movement. He co-founded the Georgia Writers Association in 1994 and served as a professor of creative writing at Kennesaw State University until his retirement in 2022.
Grooms is the author of Ice Poems (1988), Trouble No More (1995), Bombingham (2001), and The Vain Conversation (2018). His works have earned critical acclaim, including two Lillian Smith Book Awards. His writing is celebrated for its emotional depth and historical insight, often focusing on characters navigating the uncertainties of the civil rights era. In addition to his literary achievements, Grooms has received numerous fellowships, including the Fulbright Scholarship, and has taught internationally in Ghana, Sweden, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates.
An influential figure in Atlanta’s arts community, Grooms is recognized for his mentorship and support of emerging writers. His novels, particularly Bombingham, are frequently taught in schools for their powerful narratives on civil rights and social justice. Today, Grooms continues to write and inspire readers through his storytelling and engagement with cultural history.