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David I Arkin

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Name
  
David Arkin

Children
  
Alan Arkin

Spouse
  
Beatrice Arkin

Role
  
Teacher


Died
  
October 8, 1980, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, United States

Grandchildren
  
Adam Arkin, Matthew Arkin, Anthony Arkin

Similar People
  
Alan Arkin, Adam Arkin, Anthony Arkin, Matthew Arkin, Barbara Dana

Great grandchildren
  
Molly Arkin, Emmet Arkin

David I. Arkin (December 19, 1906 – October 8, 1980) was an American teacher, painter, writer, and lyricist, and is the father of actor Alan Arkin.

Life and career

Arkin was the son of Russian immigrants. In 1945, Arkin moved his family to Los Angeles, California to take a teaching job. Arkin attempted to obtain work in the entertainment industry, but was unsuccessful. An eight-month Hollywood strike cost Arkin a set designer job, but the greater blow was as a result of the McCarthy "witch hunt". Arkin, a leftist, was accused of being a communist but Arkin refused to answer questions regarding his political affiliation. As a result, he was fired from his teaching job and was unable to gain work in Hollywood. Arkin challenged his dismissal, but did not achieve exoneration until after his death. He died of cancer in October, 1980, at the age of 73 at his home in Silverlake, California.

Arkin's most memorable song-writing contribution was in creating the lyrics to the song "Black and White", with music by Earl Robinson in 1954. The song was written to celebrate the United States Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education striking down racial segregation in public schools.

"Black and White" has been recorded by artists as diverse as Pete Seeger, Sammy Davis Jr, Greyhound, The Maytones and Three Dog Night. The lyric has been the basis of an illustrated book by Arkin, which was first published in 1966. More recent editions feature a new introduction by Pete Seeger.

References

David I. Arkin Wikipedia


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