He also serves as a Board Member of the Stetson Kennedy Foundation. His primary areas of research include African American, Caribbean, Southern, and West African literatures; African Diaspora studies; West African expressive traditions; and creative writing and poetry. He is the author of several books of poetry, journal articles, and books, including Reading Africa into American Literature: Epics, Fables, Gothic Tales, which was selected as a Choice Outstanding Academic Title in 2003. Dr. Cartwright earned a B.A. in English from the University of the South, Sewannee, an M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Indiana University.