Evelyn Boyd Granville was brought up in the African American community in Washington, D.C by her mother.

Granville wrote :-
"As a child growing up in the thirties in Washington, D.C., I was aware that segregation placed many limitations on Negroes, ... However, daily one came in contact with Negroes who had made a place for themselves in society; we heard about and read about individuals whose achievements were contributing to the good of all people. These individuals, men and women, served as our role models; we looked up to them and we set out goals to be like them. We accepted education as the means to rise above the limitations that a prejudiced society endeavoured to place upon us. "