Kaitlyn Greenidge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kaitlyn Greenidge
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Greenidge at Cambridge Friends School in 2019
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| Born | 43–44 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Education |
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| Genre | Literary fiction |
| Subject | Culture, society, reviews |
| Notable works | We Love You, Charlie Freeman |
| Notable awards | Whiting Award for Fiction (2017) |
| Children | 1 |
Kaitlyn Greenidge is an American writer. She writes interesting stories and articles. In 2017, she won a special award called the Whiting Award for her first novel, We Love You, Charlie Freeman. Her second book, Libertie, came out in 2021. It's a historical novel, meaning it tells a story set in the past.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kaitlyn Greenidge was born in Boston. She grew up in nearby towns like Somerville and Arlington. Her mother was a social worker. Kaitlyn and her two sisters lived with their mom after her parents divorced when she was seven. They were among the few students of color in their school area.
College and Early Jobs
While going to college in New York City, Kaitlyn Greenidge worked several jobs. She worked in a school cafeteria. She also worked at a daycare center for babies. Another job was at the visitors center on Ellis Island. At this time, she was living in Washington Heights, Manhattan.
She took some time off from school. During this break, she and her best friend from high school moved to Juneau, Alaska. They lived there for about six months. Kaitlyn found a job working for a program called Gavel to Gavel. This program showed what was happening in the Alaska government. She met a man who worked for a TV station while traveling to Juneau. This meeting helped her get the job.
Kaitlyn Greenidge earned her first college degree from Wesleyan University. This university is in Middletown, Connecticut. Later, she earned her master's degree, called an MFA, from Hunter College in Manhattan.
Writing Career
Kaitlyn Greenidge has written many non-fiction articles. These articles have appeared in popular magazines and newspapers. Some of these include Elle, Vogue, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. In September 2020, she became the features director for Harper's Bazaar magazine.
Her Books
Greenidge's first novel, We Love You, Charlie Freeman, was released in 2016. The story is about an African American family, the Freemans. They adopt a chimpanzee and raise it as part of their family. This is for a research project. The book was very well-liked by critics. One review called it "masterful." Another said it was a "vivid and poignant coming-of-age story." Kaitlyn won a Whiting Award for this book in 2017.
She also received a special fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute. This was from 2018 to 2019. During this time, she worked on a new novel. This book was partly based on the life of Susan McKinney Steward. She was the first black female doctor in New York. This novel, Libertie, came out in March 2021. One review called it "another genius work of radical historical fiction." Another review said Greenidge "explores issues that are still real today." It also invited readers into interesting historical moments.
Personal Life
Kaitlyn Greenidge lives in central Massachusetts. She has one daughter, who was born in 2019.
Awards and Honors
- 2017 - Whiting Award for Fiction (for We Love You, Charlie Freeman)
- 2021 - Guggenheim Fellowship for Fiction
Published Works
Novels
- We Love You, Charlie Freeman (2016), Algonquin, ISBN: 9781616204679
- Libertie (2021), Algonquin, ISBN: 9781616207014
Selected Articles
- What Walmart Doesn't Get About Juneteenth (2021); The New York Times – Opinion Guest Essay
