An African-American author, filmmaker, and college professor, she is best known for her 1999 novel, Those Bones Are Not My Child, as well as for the popular short story, "Blues Ain't No Mocking Bird" (1976). Her other literary works include the short story collection, The Sea Birds Are Still Alive (1977) and the 1980 novel, The Salt Eaters.
She graduated from Queens College with a B.A. in Theater Arts and English Literature and later received a Master's degree in American Studies from City College, New York. She published her debut short story collection, Gorilla, My Love, in 1972.
She studied to be a mime at the Ecole de Mime Etienne Decroux in Paris, France.
She was born in New York City to Walter and Helen (Henderson) Cade. She later settled in Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter, Karma Bene.
Her novel, Those Bones Are Not My Child, was labeled as her masterpiece by author Toni Morrison.
