Zetta Elliott's Blog, page 114
June 9, 2010
black rage
This is going to be a LONG day…I've got a career day presentation in Long Island City this morning, then a tour of historic Greenwood Cemetery with a friend from Canada, then there's a tribute to June Jordan up in Harlem, and the day ends with a celebration of the Crown Heights Oral History Project. But the best way to start this day is by reading a really insightful review of Wish over at Book Gazing…many thanks to Jodie for considering how expressions of justifiable rage by my black...
June 8, 2010
roller coaster
Looking for a job is like getting on a roller coaster. You stand in that snaking line forever, chatting with others who are also inching toward the same goal: a ride/job that will thrill and satisfy—a job that's worth the wait. Sometimes you see folks up ahead and you want to wish them well, but you KNOW that job is meant for YOU. And all you can do is wait your turn, and try to be happy for those who are already enjoying the ride. I've got one interview coming up, and I missed the...
June 5, 2010
purge
The thing about being an HSP is that you fill up pretty quickly. Some folks think we're shy and withdrawn, but really, we're just trying to make sure we have enough room inside our minds. Take today, for instance: I woke before dawn, went to the garden, soaked up all the sights and sounds and scents there, ran my errands, met kind people, and now I'm back at home. It's only noon, but I need time to recover—to drain the cup a little—before I venture back out. And most days, that would be i...
June 4, 2010
the WisCon women!
Ok, now that I understand just what WisCon is, I realize just what I missed by not attending this year's gathering. Fortunately, Neesha Meminger posted *gorgeous* photos of the WisCon women on her blog, and so did Shveta Thakrar. Also, Mary Anne Moharanj posted her guest of honor speech on her blog—make sure you read the whole thing! This excerpt really jumped out at me, because the issue of motherhood and "natural" maternal instincts came up during my interview with Rita Williams-Garcia:
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Listen to this: elders speak…
Remember when I told you I was interviewed by the Crown Heights Oral History Project? Well, they're hosting a celebration next week that will feature some of the interviews they've recorded—I already had my portrait taken (!!)—and can't wait to hear the voices of some of the elders in our community. If you're in NYC, I hope you'll stop by and support these impressive young women.
June 3, 2010
One Crazy Summer, Part 3
This final installment of my interview with Rita Williams-Garcia is a little different. Take a look at this image and tell me what you see:
I first came across this image in the feminist gallery at the Brooklyn Museum; the following blurb explains how this needlework inspired a contemporary feminist artist, yet makes no mention of the presence of an enslaved black woman, and how HER unpaid domestic labor might have enabled the central white female figure to later have the leisure time needed ...
June 2, 2010
One Crazy Summer, Part 2
Welcome back! I hope yesterday's segment inspired you to grab a copy of One Crazy Summer. If you haven't finished the book yet, watch out for a spoiler alert at the end of today's segment. I can really identify with Rita Williams-Garcia's thoughts on the impact of "home training"—I grew up in the '70s, and never would have *dreamed* of contradicting my parents; yet by the time I had become a teen, I had no problem challenging some of my parents' decisions. I can remember my father looking ...
June 1, 2010
One Crazy Summer, Part 1
Have you read One Crazy Summer yet? If not, go get your copy now! I guarantee you will want to share it with everyone you know. OCS isn't just for children, either—I found the narrative to be daring, original, and compelling. This week I'll be presenting a three-part interview with our featured author, Rita Williams-Garcia. Enjoy!
1. In OCS, you give three young black girls the chance to be witnesses and participants during a pivotal moment in US history. Why choose these particular...
May 31, 2010
get ready for Rita!
Who needs fireworks when you've got a whole week with RITA WILLIAMS-GARCIA!! As soon as I read her latest novel, One Crazy Summer, I just knew I had to feature this author on my blog. I did a quick search and found only a couple of online interviews, so I limited myself to THREE questions and Rita graciously agreed to share her insights with me. We'll start with this short video I filmed last week following our NYPL panel: Re-Imagining the Past. But come back every day this week and hear ...
fireworks
I confess: sometimes I don't pay close attention to US holidays. Really, I don't pay close attention to any holiday outside of Christmas, but I do wear a red poppy for Remembrance Day in November. Memorial Day weekend seems to be all about BBQs and shopping sprees and fireworks—and I do love fireworks, and may look for some tonight. But the point of the holiday is to honor those who serve in the armed forces, the many veterans and war dead. This morning I woke up to the news that at...
