Early life Wilder was born on January 17, 1931, in the segregated Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond.Jessie Carney Smith, Notable Black American Men, Book 1, 1998, page 1218 He is the son of Beulah Olive (Richards) and Robert Judson Wilder. Untold Glory: African Americans in Pursuit of Freedom, Opportunity, and Achievement, Harlem Moon/Broadway Books. 2007. p. 372. He is the grandson of slaves, his paternal grandparents having been enslaved in Goochland County.Donald P. Baker, Wilder: Hold Fast to Dreams; A Biography of L. Douglas Wilder, 1989, page 3 The seventh of eight brothers and sisters, Wilder was named for the African-American writers Paul Laurence Dunbar and Frederick Douglass.Associated Press, Spokane Spokesman-Review, "Virginia Gov. Wilder Running for President", September 14, 1991.
Early life Wilder was born on January 17 1931 in the segregated Church Hill neighborhood of RichmondJessie Carney Smith Notable Black American Men Book 1 1998 page 1218 He is the son of Beulah Olive (Richards) and Robert Judson Wilder Untold Glory African Americans in Pursuit of Freedom Opportunity and Achievement Harlem Moon/Broadway Books 2007 p 372 He is the grandson of slaves his paternal grandparents having been enslaved in Goochland CountyDonald P Baker Wilder Hold Fast to Dreams; A Biography of L Douglas Wilder 1989 page 3 The seventh of eight brothers and sisters Wilder was named for the African-American writers Paul Laurence Dunbar and Frederick DouglassAssociated Press Spokane Spokesman-Review "Virginia Gov Wilder Running for President" September 14 1991