price was born on october 13, 1945, in washington, d.c., the middle child of james leo price sr., who was employed by the united states department of the treasury, and anna christine (spann) price, a home maker through much of his childhood, and later a domestic worker and professional seamstress. his older brother, james leo price jr., a distinguished school principal (retired), returned to south carolina to raise his family. younger sister jarmila louise price-gaines, a director of music education programs, resides in california. price's parents had both been participants in the great migration of african americans from the american south in the early twentieth century. they evaded jim crow by moving to northern cities in search of better employment and educational opportunities for their children.