Biography
Early Life
Carolivia Herron was born on July 22, 1947, in Northeast Washington, D.C. Her birth name was Carol Olivia. Her parents were Oscar Smith Herron and Georgia Carol Herron. She grew up going to a Black Baptist Church with her mother. She also felt connected to the Jewish faith when she was a child. She did not know that her father’s family was of Jewish descent.
In a Washington Jewish Week article, Herron explained that she just felt Jewish from the time she was reading the Bible sitting beside her mother in church. She felt a special connect to Moses and though she did not know the word Judaism at that time she knew she belonged to Moses. Herron converted to Judaism in 1996. She was 49 years old. She had her Bat Mitzvah, the ceremony when a woman becomes responsible for following Jewish laws at the Harvard Hillel.
Education
Herron got her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Eastern Baptist College. She earned a Master’s degree in English. She earned another Master’s degree in Comparative Literature and Creative Writing. She also earned a doctorate in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory. She got all three of her graduate degrees from Villanova University.
Herron continued working in schools as a professor. She taught at Harvard University from 1986 to 1990. She taught at Mount Holyoke College from 1990 to 1992. Herron received many academic awards. She received the Fulbright Post-Doctoral Research award in 1985. She received the Folger Shakespeare Library Post-Doctoral Research award in 1989.
Writing Activism
Herron became a writer after her successful career as a professor. She began writing children’s books about Jewish heritage. Her books focus specifically on Black Jewish people. Herron’s children’s books give Black Jewish children stories they can relate to. Her books were created so children could see what it really means to be a Black Jewish person. One of Herron’s most popular books is Nappy Hair. It won the 1997 Reading Magic Award and the Marion Vannett Ridgway Honor Award.
Herron’s scholarly writing focuses on the connection between being Black and being Jewish. Her writings are important to the Jewish community. They give voice to Black Jewish people. She explores the painful experiences that both groups of people have survived. Herron was awarded the lifetime achievement award from the organization Be’chol Lashon in 2011. This organization celebrates diversity that helps strengthen the Jewish community.
Another important work by Herron is the libretto Let Freedom Sing: The Story of Marian Anderson. A libretto is the words that are spoken along with music in an opera.
Carolivia Herron’s life experience as a Black Jewish person gave her a special perspective. She uses it to teach others about the challenges Black Jewish people face. She is currently the director of the EpiCentering the National Mall creative writing program. This program helps at-risk youth.
