Essex Hemphill was born April 16,1957 in Chicago, the second of five children, but spent the most of his childhood in Washington D.C. He attended Ballou High School in D.C. and after graduation, enrolled at the University of Maryland in 1975 to study journalism.
Essex Hemphill was born April 16,1957 in Chicago, Illinois to Warren and Mantalene Hemphill, and was the second eldest of five children. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Maryland in 1975 to study journalism.