Carolivia Herron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carolivia Herron
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Herron at opening of Let Freedom Sing
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Carol Olivia Herron
July 22, 1947 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Education | Eastern Baptist College (BA) Villanova University (MA) University of Pennsylvania (MFA, PhD) |
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Carolivia Herron (born July 22, 1947) is an American writer and scholar. She writes books for both children and adults. She also studies African-American Judaism, which is the culture and history of Jewish people of African descent.
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About Carolivia Herron
Carolivia Herron was born in Washington, D.C. Her parents were Oscar Smith Herron and Georgia Carol (Johnson) Herron.
As an adult, Herron became Jewish. She learned that her family on her father's side had Jewish roots. These ancestors were Jewish Geechees, a group of African Americans from the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina.
She is also a founding member of a group called "Jews of African Descent." This group helps connect and support Jewish people who have African heritage.
Her Education Journey
Carolivia Herron has studied a lot! She earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English from Eastern Baptist College in Pennsylvania. This school is now known as Eastern University.
She then received a Master of Arts (MA) degree in English from Villanova University in 1973. Later, she earned two more advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. These were a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing and a PhD. Her PhD focused on comparative literature, which means studying literature from different cultures, and literary theory, which is about how we understand and interpret stories.
After her PhD, she spent a year doing research at Brandeis University. There, she studied African-American Jews even more deeply.
Her Books and Stories
Carolivia Herron has written many interesting books. Her first novel for adults was called Thereafter Johnnie. It tells a story about African-American life and was well-received by critics.
One of her most famous children's books is Nappy Hair. This picture book is a "call-and-response" story. This means it's like a conversation where one part is said, and then another part responds. The story was inspired by her own childhood experiences. Nappy Hair caused some discussion when a teacher used it in a New York City public school. The book is influenced by old epic stories and African traditions of praise.
Herron also helped edit the writings of Angelina Weld Grimke for Oxford University Press. Grimke was an important African-American writer.
Many of Herron's writings explore the connections between Jewish and African cultures. For example, her ongoing multimedia novel, "Asenath and Our Song of Songs," explores these themes. Parts of this larger work have been published as separate novels. These include "Asenath and the Origin of Nappy Hair" (2014) and "PeacesongDC" (2016).
Her children's book Always an Olivia tells a special family story. It's about how her Jewish ancestors traveled from Tripoli, Libya, all the way to the Georgia Sea Islands in the Americas.
Carolivia Herron also wrote the words for an opera called Let Freedom Sing: The Story of Marian Anderson. An opera is a play where the words are sung. This opera tells the story of Marian Anderson, a famous singer. The opera was first performed in 2009 by the Washington National Opera.
Teaching and Sharing Knowledge
Carolivia Herron has taught literature at many different schools. These include famous universities like Harvard University, Mount Holyoke College, and Brandeis University. She has also taught at California State University, Chico, William and Mary, and Marien N'Guabi University in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
Since 2017, Herron has been teaching at Howard University. She teaches college classes about the Humanities, which often includes ancient epic stories. She also teaches about Black people in ancient times.
She also works directly with children, teaching them about ancient Greek epics and mythology. She can even translate ancient languages!
Her Scholarship and Research
Beyond writing, Carolivia Herron is a dedicated scholar. Her research includes studying African-American Judaism. She also studies children's literature and books from many different cultures. Interestingly, she has even done work related to Star Trek!
Currently, Herron is creating something called Epicenter Stories. This project helps her in her work with children, improving their literacy (reading and writing skills), and promoting multiculturalism (understanding and respecting different cultures).
