Carlene Hatcher Polite facts for kids

Carlene Hatcher Polite (born August 28, 1932 – died December 7, 2009) was an important American writer. She was known for her powerful stories about the experiences of African American people. Carlene Polite was also a talented dancer and a dedicated teacher.

Carlene Polite's Early Life and Dance

Carlene Hatcher Polite was born in Detroit, Michigan. She loved to dance and trained at the famous Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance. This is a very well-known school for modern dance.

From 1955 to 1963, she worked as a professional dancer. She performed in big cities like New York and Detroit. Besides dancing, Carlene Polite also worked to help people. She was involved with groups like the Detroit Council for Human Rights and the NAACP. These groups worked for civil rights, which means they fought for equal rights for all people.

Becoming a Writer

In 1964, Carlene Polite moved to Paris, France. There, she started her career as a writer. Her first book was called The Flagellants. It was first published in French in 1966. The English version came out a year later in 1967.

This book was very well-received by critics. A writer named Mel Watkins from The New York Times Book Review said it was a "brilliant" story. He noted that it showed the difficult parts of a relationship between a Black couple. He also said it was one of the first books by a Black woman to explore these kinds of feelings.

Carlene Polite's second book was published in 1975. It was titled Sister X and the Victims of Foul Play. This book was a mystery story. It was about someone investigating the death of a Black nightclub dancer in Paris.

Teaching and Later Years

In 1971, Carlene Polite returned to the United States. She joined the University at Buffalo as a teacher. She taught many interesting subjects. These included creative writing, African American history, and African American literature. She taught there until she retired in 2000.

As a professor, she was very dedicated. She often had her students read books about African history and culture. These books explored ideas about the origins of civilization in Africa. Her writing assignments were also unique. Students would write short papers about being in love or falling out of love. They also wrote about what it might be like to be the opposite gender.

Carlene Hatcher Polite passed away on December 7, 2009. She left behind a legacy as a dancer, a civil rights activist, a powerful writer, and an inspiring teacher.