Brenda & Carolivia: A Juneteenth Conversation

Brenda, an eight-year-old whose hair and accomplishments are celebrated in the book Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron, is a fictional projection of the author. Brenda does not speak for herself in Nappy Hair, but in 2013 she emerged as the 28-year-old author of Nappier Hair: In Brenda’s Own Voice; or, Setting the Record Straight, an essay published in The Lion and the Unicorn. Carolivia uses Brenda as a humorous way of elaborating different opinions on an issue, and in this short video, Carolivia and Brenda argue about Juneteenth.

Carolivia Herron, Ph.D. teaches Classics at Howard University. Her books include Peacesong DC: A Jewish Africana Academia Epic Tale of Washington City; Always an Olivia: A Remarkable Family History; and Asenath and the Origin of Nappy Hair: Being a Collection of Tales Gathered and Extracted from the Epic Stanzas of Asenath and Our Song of Songs.