Brenda M. Greene facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brenda M. Greene
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| Born | October 29, 1950 |
| Education | New York University (BS, PhD) Hunter College (MA) |
| Occupation | Scholar, educational leader, author, literary activist, and radio host |
| Title | Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Black Literature |
| Awards | Lynnette Velasco Community Impact Award (2015) Percy E. Sutton SEEK Women’s Empowerment Award (2016) |
Brenda M. Greene (born 1950) is an American scholar and author. She is also a literary activist and a radio host. She works at Medgar Evers College in New York City.
Dr. Greene started and leads the Center for Black Literature. She also directs the National Black Writers Conference. Before this, she taught in New York City public schools. She worked with community groups too. Since 2004, she has hosted a radio show on WNYE radio. She talks with many famous writers there. She was also a leader for the Nkiru Center for Education and Culture. This center was started by hip hop artists Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli.
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Early Life and Education
Brenda M. Greene was born on October 29, 1950. Her birthplace was Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. She went to public schools in Queens and Brooklyn. She graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn.
She studied at New York University. There she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She also got her PhD from New York University. She earned a Master of Arts degree from Hunter College.
Academic Career and Community Work
Dr. Greene worked at Malcolm King College Harlem Extension. She directed the Right to Read Program there. In 1980, she joined Medgar Evers College. She taught many classes at the college. These included writing, literature, and African American literature. She also held many leadership roles.
She has spent her life building cultural arts groups. These groups help Black communities in Brooklyn and beyond. Dr. Greene has worked with many supportive people. These include Sonia Sanchez and Danny Glover. She also partnered with important places. Examples are the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Another is the New-York Historical Society. These partnerships led to many great programs.
Dr. Greene is also active in English studies. She has been a leader in the National Council of Teachers of English. She has led writing workshops for them. She has also judged for many literary groups.
Radio Show: Writers on Writing
Dr. Greene hosts a weekly radio show. It is called Writers on Writing. The show is on WNYE, 91.5 FM. She talks with writers from the African diaspora. They discuss their books, poems, and plays. They also share stories about their lives.
Since 2004, she has interviewed many Black writers. These include new authors and best-selling writers. Some of her guests have been Elizabeth Alexander. Others include Walter Mosley and Ta-Nehisi Coates. She has also spoken with Cornel West and Amiri Baraka.
Books by Brenda M. Greene
Dr. Greene has written several books. Here are some of them:
- The African Presence and Influence on the Cultures of the Americas. (2010)
- Resistance and Transformation: Conversations with Black Writers. (2010)
- Meditations and Ascensions: Black Writers on Writing. (2008)
- Defining Ourselves: Black Writers in the 90s. (1999)
- Rethinking American Literature. (1997)
Personal Life
Brenda M. Greene is a mother. Her son, Talib Kweli Greene, is a hip hop artist. Her other son, Jamal Greene, is a law professor. She also has five grandchildren.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Greene has received many awards. These awards honor her work.
- Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award, 2019.
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Brooklyn Oldtimers Foundation, 2017.
- Medgar Evers College Percy E. Sutton SEEK Women's Empowerment Award, 2016.
- Lynnette Velasco Community Impact award, Harlem Arts Festival, 2015.
- Harriet Jacobs Award for Excellence in Literature, 2013.
- Spirit of Africa Award for Achievements in the Creative Arts, 2010.
- Gwendolyn Brooks Conference International Literary Hall of Fame Inductee, 2010.
- Betty Smith Arts Award, Brooklyn Borough President's Office, 2010.
- National Conference of Artists Award for Excellence in Black Literature, 2009.
