Last night in my ethics class we spent two hours talking about war, primarily American: Revolutionary, Civil, Vietnam, Iraq. I did NOT tell the class that my Opa fought for the German army in World War II. It wasn’t a story I was prepared to tell. Since I kept silent last night, now I have to tell …
I haven’t written in a while because I’ve been guilty and afraid. Guilty because a few months ago I hurt someone I deeply admire. Afraid because, as a result, I started questioning if my attempts to combat racism are doing more harm than good. It isn’t helpful for me to “address” racism in a way …
As I write this, I’m tired and grateful. Tired because I have too much work and too little time, and grateful because yesterday I got a flat tire driving home from a doctor’s appointment. I hate tires. They smell like the oil they’re made of. But I love having a car. So I drove to …
Sunrise was misty blue and pink this morning, with the rain still wet on the cold frames in the garden, their coverings pulled back to the let the moisture in. Now that the summer heat has relented I’ve pulled back the drapes, taken down the towels I tacked up over the skylights. I can see …
Some years ago at my women’s writing group I had an aha! moment while bemoaning the lack of women authors among the ranks of the literary elite. My friend Vanessa commented that, as a black woman, she isn’t surprised when the publishing industry ignores her. Of course she wants her work to be visible, and is a strong advocate …