Selwyn Cudjoe facts for kids

Selwyn Cudjoe was born on December 1, 1943. He is a professor, historian, and writer from Trinidad and Tobago. He teaches about African and Caribbean studies at Wellesley College in the United States. Professor Cudjoe is an expert in Caribbean literature and the history of ideas in the Caribbean. He teaches classes on African-American writing, African writing, and Caribbean writing.

Life and Education

Selwyn Reginald Cudjoe was born in Tacarigua, Trinidad and Tobago. His family had lived there for many generations. He grew up on a sugar estate, where his ancestors had worked. His great-grandfather, Jonathon Cudjoe, was born in Tacarigua in 1833. This was the last year of formal slavery.

Early Schooling

Cudjoe went to Tacarigua EC School in Trinidad. In 1964, when he was 21, he moved to the United States. He continued his studies there.

University Studies

He attended Fordham University, earning a bachelor's degree in English in 1969. He also received a master's degree in American Literature from Fordham in 1972. He then studied at Columbia University and later earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1976.

Teaching Career

Professor Cudjoe has taught at several universities. These include Ithaca College, Cornell University, Harvard University, Brandeis University, and Ohio University. In 1986, he joined the faculty at Wellesley College. He also taught at Auburn State Prison and for a youth program.

Writings and Contributions

Selwyn Cudjoe has written and edited many important books. These books often focus on Caribbean history and literature. He also writes a weekly newspaper column.

Books by Cudjoe

Some of his books include:

• Caribbean Visionary: A. R. F. Webber and the Making of the Guyanese Nation (published in 2011)
• The Role of Resistance in Caribbean Literature (published in 2010)
• Beyond Boundaries: The Intellectual Tradition of Trinidad and Tobago in the Nineteenth Century (published in 2002)

His 2018 book, The Slavemaster of Trinidad: William Hardin Burnley and the Nineteenth-Century Atlantic World, is very important. It tells the story of William Hardin Burnley, a planter who made his money in the Caribbean. This book helps us understand the history of Trinidad better. The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Rowley, suggested that this book should be used in all schools across the country.

Books Edited by Cudjoe

Professor Cudjoe has also edited several books. One example is Caribbean Women Writers. This book is a collection of essays from a conference he organized in 1988. Another book he edited is Narratives of Amerindians in Trinidad and Tobago; or, Becoming Trinbagonian (published in 2016). This book collects important documents about the history of Indigenous people in Trinidad.

Articles and Documentaries

Cudjoe writes a weekly column for the TnT Mirror newspaper. His articles have also appeared in major newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post. He has also written several documentaries, including Tacarigua: A Village in Trinidad. He also hosted shows for Trinidad and Tobago Television.