Convened by Professor Carolivia Herron
Sunday, June 16, 2019
2:00-5:00pm
House A
Howard University and the Center for Hellenic Studies celebrate James Joyce and epic literature with readings and dramatic presentations in conversation with Ulysses and Odysseus. The event will feature students enrolled in “Blacks in Antiquity,” a summer course offered by Professor Herron at Howard University.
An international event, Bloomsday honors James Joyce’s revolutionary novel, Ulysses, on June 16, the same day that the novel’s events take place.
About the convener
Carolivia Herron is an African American Jew and a Senior Faculty Scholar Coach and Adjunct Lecturer in the Classics Department of Howard University. She primarily teaches literature courses that connect ancient epics of Europe, Africa and Asia with stories, novels, and poetry written today. Her 1991 novel, Thereafter Johnnie, has been called the African American Ulysses by the New York Times and others. Mayor Muriel Bowser presented Dr. Herron the “Exceptional Woman in the Arts Award” for writing the libretto for the opera, Let Freedom Sing: The Story of Marian Anderson. The music was composed by Bruce Adolphe.
Carolivia loves epic poetry and epic stories, especially epics about cities, and she hosts a weekly radio show, Epic City, on WOWD-LP Takoma Park radio.
In addition to Howard University Dr. Herron has been a professor at Harvard University, Mount Holyoke College, Chico State University, the College of William and Mary, and Arizona State University. As Senior Faculty Scholar Coach at Howard University Carolivia is creating a multimedia interactive version of her novel, Asenath and Our Song of Songs. This work will be an educational and storytelling gateway for interconnecting the creative works of artists and scholars. Carolivia is also a member of Tifereth Israel Congregation of Washington, DC.
Photo of Carolivia Herron courtesy of Repair the World.