Lorene Cary

Lorene Cary is a Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Pennsylvania, where she has taught creative writing since 1997. Her work bridges literature, theater, and civic engagement, focusing on African-American history, intergenerational narratives, and youth empowerment.

• Research Interests: Fiction and memoir writing, African-American history, Underground Railroad, urban education, digital humanities, and comparative race/empire studies.
• Teaching: Courses like Writing and Politics and Advanced Writing for Children, emphasizing public engagement via platforms like #VoteThatJawn.

Literary Trends: Cary’s publications span memoirs (Black Ice, Ladysitting), novels (The Price of a Child, If Sons, Then Heirs), and theatrical works (My General Tubman, Ladysitting). Her writing explores themes of racial identity, family legacy, and social justice, often adapting historical narratives into contemporary contexts.

Honors: Recipient of UPenn’s Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching and The Philadelphia Award (2003), she has also received honorary doctorates from multiple institutions for her contributions to literature and education.

Community Engagement: Founder of Art Sanctuary (1998–2012) and the SafeKidsStories.com initiative, which evolved into #VoteThatJawn. She served on Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (2011–2013), advocating for revised student conduct policies to reduce suspensions.