Black History Month Series (IV)

Removed for publication in MoJo! Issue # 2 (my online journal).  Check Publications page.

Black History Month Series (III)

Q: Why is “different” still a dirty word?
A: Because of the normalcy fantasies of the skin privileged.
I am not a member of mainstream-, middle class-, Judeo-Christian-, WASP-modeled society. That is one of the major differences between being a “truly multicultural artist” and being “a multiculturalist.” Multiculturalists are usually skin privileged, thus [...]

Black History Month Series (II)

Q: What does it mean, really, to be a multicultural writer?
A: I write as I live, through all of my valued private and public traditions and experiences…as an American. There’s no pie chart for my cultural percentages, and 9 times out of 10, the Black part is not open for discussion.
Blackness is a [...]

Black History Month Series (I)

In honor of Black History Month and the impending publication of my first collection of poems, which are autobiographical, I will be posting a series of personal essays.
Q: What does it mean to be Black, and multicultural, and a woman writing into the 21st century?
A: It’s a race, class, gender tale of [...]

Groups for a non-Groupie

It’s not easy for natural loners to congregate, but this week I found myself exceedingly comfortable in, even energized by, two writers’ groups. One is an older group into which I have dropped on occasion in the past.  I don’t get any significant publish-worthy work done there, but it is pleasant.  We sat sipping tea, and [...]

Favorite New Quote

“There is a world of difference between being a woman and being an old female. If you’re born a girl, grow up, and live long enough, you can become an old female. But to become a woman is a serious matter. A woman takes responsibility for the time she takes up and the space she [...]

Multiculturalism: One Black Poet’s Experience-Pt.2

July 9th, 2007 by makingpoetry
Removed for publication consideration

Face-ism: One Black Poet’s Experience-Pt.1

June 25th, 2007 by makingpoetry
Removed for publication consideration