Carolivia Herron

Carolivia Herron is an African American Jewish author, educator and publisher living in Washington, DC. Recently she has been a Lecturer and Scholar Coach in Classics at Howard University and an emeritus Distinguished Visiting Scholar of Project Humanities at Arizona State University. The year 2021 marks Carolivia’s 50th year since teaching her first college course at Villanova University. This year is also the 30th anniversary of the publication of her first novel, Thereafter Johnnie. Her other publications include the children’s books Nappy Hair, Always An Olivia and Little Georgia and the Apples. Adult fiction works include Asenath and the Origin of Nappy Hair, PeacesongDC, and the forthcoming Asenath and Our Song of Songs (publication date December 30. 2021). Dr. Herron’s academic publications include The Selected Works of Angelina Weld Grimké and “What is African American Epic Tradition.” Herron has also written the librettos and texts of several classical musical works including, Let Freedom Sing: The Story of Marian Anderson (2009; composer Bruce Adolphe); The Journey of Phillis Wheatley (2004; composer Nkeiru Okoye); and “We Are Free,” (2013 & 2021; composer Bruce Adolphe, movement in sonata, Reach Out, Raise Hope, Change Society). Dr. Carolivia Herron received her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. Her scholarly and creative work focuses on the epic literary genre including, the epics of Classical Greece and Rome, England, Africa, the ancient Near East, and African American Epic Tradition. Herron’s professorial appointments include Harvard University, Mt. Holyoke College, and California State University at Chico. She hosts the radio show, Epic City on WOWD-LP Takoma Park radio.