She excelled there in academics and was awarded a Thouron Fellowship for British-US Student Exchange. Paul's School in 1974, Cary attended the University of Pennsylvania.

Paul's later in life.Īfter graduating from St. These conflicting interests placed many questions into her mind and at points forced her to question her connection with St. She wanted to hold on to her African-American culture as best she could, while at the same time becoming an educated individual in a system constructed by whites. Paul's, Cary was forced to find her identity. Being one of the first black students to study at St. Paul's School, Cary experienced a conflict of emotions that eventually inspired her bestselling book, Black Ice (1991). Paul's School and invited to be part of the Class of 1974. After attending an informational session and visiting the campus, the young Cary decided that 'no matter what, wanted to go.' In March of 1972, Cary was accepted to go to St. The school had recently gone coed and several alumni were passing down the word that the school was interested in finding black girls to attend it.

Paul's was a private, college-preparatory boarding school for grades nine through twelve that was affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Paul's School located in Concord, New Hampshire. It was here, at age fourteen, that a neighbor first told Cary of the very prestigious St. After living in a city apartment in West Philadelphia for brief period, the Cary family moved to Yeadon, a predominately black suburb of Philadelphia. Cary (Black Ice) pairs generations of loving, and loyal individuals with social history, making for an absorbing and moving tale.Lorene Cary, a highly respected African-American author and social activist, was born in Philadelphia on November 29, 1956, to John and Carole (Hamilton) Cary.

Finally, Alonzo's investigation into his great-grandmother's land puts him on a collision course with the men who brought about his great-grandfather's violent end. And Alonzo's mother suddenly wanting to reconnect after years of abandonment further complicates matters her marriage to the white man she met after abandoning her son turned her life around. But she hasn't owned the land since King, her husband, died almost 50 years ago Selma was King's second wife, not an heir, and this unforeseen fact, combined with ancient, racist inheritance laws, makes for a sticky situation. As the story begins, Khalil accompanies Alonzo to South Carolina where Alonzo urges the aging Selma to sell her land so they can pay for her long-term care.

Now he owns a construction business in Philadelphia and lives with Lillie, a single mom, and her seven-year-old son, Khalil. Alonzo Rayne was raised in South Carolina by his great-grandmother, Selma. Cary tells a complex story of family, race, and the challenges of reconciling the present with a persistent past.

If Sons, Then Heirs by Lorene Cary