Karsonya Wise Whitehead facts for kids
Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead is a well-known American educator, writer, and radio host. She is also a speaker and makes documentary films. People sometimes call her the #blackmommyactivist. She started The Karson Institute for Race, Peace, and Social Justice. She is also a professor at Loyola University Maryland. You can hear her host "Today With Kaye" on WEAA radio. She writes opinion articles for the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper.
About Her Life
Education and Early Career
Kaye Whitehead studied at several universities. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts, from Lincoln University. She then received a Master of Arts in International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She also studied filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. Later, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Before becoming a professor, Whitehead was a middle school teacher in Baltimore City. She also worked as a documentary filmmaker for Metro TV, which is connected to PBS. She was a senior producer for Music Television Networks (MTV). In 2001, she directed and produced a film called The Twin Towers: A History. This film was nominated for a New York Emmy Award. This was her third Emmy nomination.
Whitehead has also held important leadership roles. She served as the National Secretary for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). She was also the National Secretary and later the National President (from 2020 to 2023) for the National Women's Studies Association.
Awards and Recognition
Kaye Whitehead has received many awards for her work.
- In 2020, the Daily Record newspaper named her one of Maryland's Top 100 Women. The Baltimore Sun newspaper also named her the Best Radio Host that year.
- In 2019, she received the Collegium Visionary Award from the College of Holy Cross. She also won the Exceptional Merit in Media Award (EMMA) from the National Women's Political Caucus. This was for her work on a special journal issue called #BlackGirlActivism. The Baltimore Sun also listed her as one of Baltimore's 25 "Women to Watch in 2019." Essence magazine included her on their 2019 "Woke 100 List." This list recognized black women who are working for change.
- In 2021, the Baltimore Business Journal named her a "Leader in Diversity."
- In 2016, she received the "Distinguished Alumni" Award from the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.
- In 2014, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
- In 2013, she received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Engaged Scholarship from Loyola University Maryland.
- Also in 2021, Kaye received the Edward R. Murrow Regional Award. This was for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She also received the Chesapeake Associated Press Award for Outstanding Editorial or Commentary. The Amistad Committee gave her The Amistad Award for her work in human rights and social justice.
Her Writings
Kaye Whitehead is a curriculum writer. She created a special curriculum called Trump Syllabus K12 curriculum: Lesson Plans for Teaching During this New Age of Resistance. This curriculum was put together with ideas from many people.
She has also written four books. One of her books is Letters for My Black Sons: Raising Boys in a Post-Racial America. Another important book is Notes from a Colored Girl: The Civil War Pocket Diaries of Emilie Frances Davis. This book was reviewed in the Journal of American History. A documentary film called The Women of Philadelphia was made about this book. The film received the 2015 Darlene Clark Hine Award and the 2014 Letitia Woods Brown Book Award.
