For as long as I can remember, I have loved to write. In a lot of ways, I have loved writing for far longer than I have loved reading. As a kid, I would spend hours jotting down my own stories in notebooks. I would lay awake at night thinking about all the possibilities for my stories and where I wanted things to go. I’ll be the first to admit that none of those stories were anything new, creative, or good, but they gave me a great outlet to express my creativity.
As I got older, I wrote less and less. School took up lots of my time. I focused all my time on keeping my grades up. I was a varsity athlete. I also managed the boys’ swim team. I had so much going on that I didn’t have time to let my creative juices create more than just the basic premise of a story in my mind. It sucked because so much of me wanted to write but I just couldn’t. Eventually, senior year rolled around and the biggest decision of my life so far appeared in front of me: where would I choose to go to school and what would I major in. I applied to seven different schools, all of which had English programs, but my biggest desire was to go to a school with a creative writing program. I am very fortunate that my parents supported my desire to major in creative writing. They wanted me to enjoy my time in college and go after something I am passionate about. I picked Seattle U for a handful of reasons: 1) it was close to home and 2) it had a creative writing program. From that moment that I confirmed my enrollment, I felt like I was on the right track. Let’s fast-forward to this year. I am currently taking my first creative writing class since seventh grade. The objective of the course is to create a text adaptation based off a physical piece of art (a movie, painting, photograph, music video, etc.) In a lot of ways, I thought that this would be a breeze. I would view the physical piece of art as a prompt and I would have to write whatever I wanted as long as it referred to the original piece, however, I was very wrong. For about the last six years, I have written purely academic papers. The mindset of academic papers is so vastly different from the mindset of a creative story. I was going from writing true, hard evidence writing to writing where I could make everything up and no one could tell me it was wrong since it was all my original idea; from structure to absolute autonomy. In a lot of ways, it was scary and it made me doubt my abilities, but I knew I had to do it because I didn’t really have a choice. I started off by choosing an art piece that I was very interested in. I chose The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli. The painting is dark, ominous, and has lots of elements to use to spin a good story. I had never written a horror/thriller story before without some type of prompt, so I thought it would be something new and fun to try as I got reacquainted with creative writing. I was constantly reminding myself to take it easy and recognize that this probably wasn’t going to be my best work after not writing a creative story in so long. This story didn’t have to be groundbreaking or award-winning; I simply needed something to turn in and I could go from there. I also held myself responsible for holding back on how often I went back, deleted, and then rewrote things. I knew that if I was constantly going back and forth, I was going to be too harsh on myself and I knew I would never be happy with it. Holding myself to these things and being gentle with myself was super helpful. I enjoyed writing the assignment and even got really good feedback about it when my classmates read it. I know that I still have far to go, but in so many ways, I think I am finally back to what I want.
0 Comments
When I was a kid, it would’ve been nearly impossible to find me without a book in hand. My parents often tell stories about when I used to hole up in my bedroom with a novel when we had guests over. I have vivid memories of sitting at my community pool on hot, summer days with my feet dangling into the water as I read another Beverly Cleary novel and of wandering through my local mall, eyes focused on my book instead of the clothing racks in front of me. When I was six, my optometrist told my parents that I needed reading glasses, and I wore them around my elementary school with pride.
The older I got, the less I cared about reading. The cool kids at my middle school teased those who used to hide books under their desks in class so that they could read as our teachers taught, and because I was thirteen, I was willing to give up something that defined my childhood if it meant that I could climb the social ladder. So, I did what I felt like was the obvious thing: I quit reading for half a decade. In March of 2020, like everyone else, I suddenly had a lot of free time in my hands with very little to do. On a whim, I asked my mom if I could order some books to read. As an English teacher, she was over the moon to hear that I wanted to start reading again and told me that she would cover five books for me. I picked out five random young adult books, unsure whether I would really get into them, and pressed the order button. I read all five books in five days. Since that fateful purchase, I’ve read hundreds of books in two years. I’ve stumbled into worlds with sparkling tales of enemies waltzing through ballrooms, plot twists that have left me suffering for days from whiplash, and most of all, experienced pure, unadulterated hope that when the worst happens, things will eventually get better. At a time when things felt so dire and bleak, like I was in a constant state of purgatory, I always had a book to fall into. I think we love to read because we love to see what the world has to offer outside of our bubble. We love the feeling of falling for endearing love interests, the pride that comes with conquering our worst fears, and the knowledge that, even just for a minute, we get to escape our own stressors to live a fantastical, dreamlike reality. Now that I’m no longer couped up in my house, I’ve had to put a little bit more work into continuing my nurturing of reading. If you’re looking to fall back in love with reading—or in love with it for the first time—this is the advice I always give when asked how to make it happen.
In today’s blog, I will be talking about the importance of writing and its impact on our well-being. One important thing to note is that you don’t always have to write academic papers to recognize the importance of writing and explore its benefits. You can also do it for fun and to aid in your well-being.
Importance of Writing and its advantages Creative or expressive writing helps people in maintaining their physical and mental health well-being. During 2018, Cambridge University Press posted about a study of group of people who were asked to participate in an expressive writing for 15-20 mins per day. They were asked to avoid downplaying their emotions when engaging in this research. It was discovered that people who expressed confidence in expressing their emotions in the writing had better physical and mental health indexes compared to people who wrote about neutral topics and downsized their emotions in writing. The results of this study clearly highlight the importance of personal or expressive writing such as journaling to help people regulate their emotions and maintain their physical and mental health well-being. Now, let’s talk more about journaling and how you can get started with it. Journaling Journaling is one of the healthiest ways to express oneself and deal with overwhelming emotions or situations. Whenever I have a bad day or the best day, I like to write about it. It helps me own my good actions and memories. It also helps me destress and prioritize my to-do lists, problems, and solutions on my bad days. Journaling gives us an opportunity to speak with ourselves and improve out communication skills at the same time. Some tips about how to get started! Some of the tips that you can easily incorporate in your busy schedule are as follows:
Baikie, K., & Wilhelm, K. (2005). Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 11(5), 338-346. https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.11.5.338 There’s something so daunting about a blank screen, and I think that’s especially true when you’re trying to generate a piece of creative writing. You have an idea, whether it’s a line of dialogue, a snapshot of a moment in time, or a character who’s unrelentingly pestering you. It’s up to you to take that small detail and turn it into something beautiful.
So, how do you overcome the intimidation to do it? The first time I ever tried my hand at creative writing was when I was twelve, seated in the back of a crowded minivan on my way home from a long camping trip. My blank notes app stares back at me, daring me to take the leap of faith and start writing, so I did. I would be lying if I told you that I knew exactly what pushed me to start in that moment, but I’ve had a few years of practice since then and have tried all kinds of different things to overcome that moment of heart-clenching pressure that comes from a blank document. In my opinion, there are two different ways in which lightning strikes on a new story: the inspiration and the writing itself. Neither happens without the other, even if they’re process of their own. Below, I’ve included a couple of ways in which you can jar these elements into action. Inspiration: Inspiration—for me at least—comes from consumption of other media. It might be a song lyric I’ve heard dozens of times or the style of prose in a book I read, and part of why I love to write is because of the sudden moment when inspiration strikes in the most mundane of situations. Here is some of my advice on where you can find inspiration! - Other books: Reading books in the genre you want to write in is a great step in getting inspired! It’s a great way to discover what kind of reading resonates with you, because, at the end of the day, your goal with writing should be to write what you want to read! - Music: I am a HUGE Taylor Swift fan and growing up on her music has taught me the importance of digging deep into emotions, particularly in the idea of showing instead of telling. Musicians all present stories or moments in different ways and listening to their work can help you find your voice in your own writing. - Your own community: I find the biggest inspiration in the people in my personal life, whether it’s through things they say, stories they tell about their lives, or how they interact with others. Comparing how people react to certain situations can allow you to learn how to create nuance and motivation in your own writing. Writing: This is, more often than not, the harder part. You’ve found some element of a story you want to tell. Now what? - Pinterest Boards: If there is only one Pinterest fan in the world, it is me. Before I start writing anything, I always create a board for each of my main characters before pulling quotes and images that visually show me who they are. As a visual learner, seeing the story come to life through images makes it feel more tangible and allows me to connect with it more. - Outline: This is not something that every writer does, but it is critical to the success of my personal process. I like to outline the first few chapters in detail, write a summary for myself (like the one you’d read on the back of a book in bookstore), and break down key attributes of my characters before I even start. This sounds like a lot, but when I start writing, I know what I need to accomplish on my first page. All these steps are helpful in starting the process of writing, but my biggest piece of advice is this: it doesn’t need to be perfect. It is very easy to get stuck in a space of not wanting to start writing because you are worried that it won’t be “good” on your first go. I know that this is something I struggle with, too. Still, I always try to remind myself that this is only my first draft. The more you write of a story, the more you find the voice you want to tell it in and the more your characters click into place. This draft is to fully discover the story you want to tell, not the sparkling, final draft. You will always be your harshest critic. Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to fall in love with your story, even with its flaws. You are writing a story. That alone is success. This is the third post written to both honor and spread awareness of gender diversity across cultures in both past and present day. To adequately do that, I will be addressing the forms of oppression these communities have faced as well as the implications that they have had on BIPOC communities today. While I have done some additional research, much of my analysis for this post in particular has been drawn from research I have done for classes in the past, and I will share sources throughout as well! If you have not already read the first post addressing the overall topic, I would highly recommend doing so for additional context.
I will admit that this post has been months in the making. Africa is vast not only in land but also in diversity and history. It is never my intention to portray the continent as monolithic. That being said, I also celebrate many aspects of Pan-Africanism as a descendent of those who were taken from the continent and survived elsewhere. A big part of accepting who I am in terms of my racial, ethnic, and gender identities have been dependent on discovery of some ways that Africans lived prior to colonization. This comes from having much of my association with my Blackness coming from a Christian evangelical church community and because of that, I found myself needing to reconcile my queerness. However, the more I learned about the gender diversity present in many pre-colonial African societies, I realized that my gender identity wasn’t contradictory to being Black at all. While much of what we know about gender norms has been limited or lost to history, much of what we do know about them can be revealed or inferred by the spiritualities of different groups! As far as gender diversity that can be found in some African spiritualities, Olokun, an Orisha from the Yoruba tradition is a strong example. Olokun has been recognized as being male, female, or androgynous by different groups. In addition to different interpretations about Olokun’s gender, there are some possible social implications as a result to Olokun’s deviation from the binary. Women have been allowed to have the same spiritual authority and power in the worship of the deity as men do, which has not always been the case in other spiritual practices. Another example is Amma, who is the supreme creator in Dogon spirituality. Amma is believed to embody both male and female principles. This has been explained both for the reasons of being consistent of the duality present throughout Dogon beliefs and because Dogon represents the reproductive process as a whole. One final example is Hapi from Egyptian spirituality. Though Hapi is generally referred to as male, he has been depicted as having large breasts to represent the prosperity that comes from the annual flooding of the Nile River. In other regions of the continent, gender diversity was evidenced in multiple human societies. According to Syvia Uganda of Makere University Uganda, the “mudoko dako” were part of the Langi in northern Uganda. She claimed that they were “effeminate males” who “were treated as women and could marry men.” In what is known as Angola, a Portuguese soldier in 1681 reported that there was “among the Angolan pagan much sodomy.” In the same account, the soldier claimed in less kind terms that Chibados were not monogamous and dressed as women. From another Portuguese account, there was an enslaved woman named Vitoria who was arrested in 1556 during the Inquisition in Lisbon. In spite of being arrested for deviance and sodomy, James H. Sweet of University of Wisconsin Madison claims that she “insisted that she was a woman and had the anatomy to prove it.” Unfortunately, she was given a life sentence. Sweet explains that, for people like Vitoria, “same-sex behaviours were simply expressions of their broader spiritual roles, roles that went completely unrecognized by the Portuguese.” What was described above are only a few small examples in regard to gender diversity in connection to the history of the vast continent of Africa. However, I did not grow up hearing of these examples at all, and I am now very protective of this information and determined to seek out much more. By doing so, I hope to educate more Black communities of who some of our ancestors were and how they may have lived for centuries prior to and even during the onset of enslavement and colonization. Not only do we need to honor their memory, but we need to do better by each other and acknowledge some of the damaging views about gender that have been imposed on and embraced in our communities today. One could argue that we have lost many Black women like Vitoria in only the last few years, and we need to do more to protect each other. It is by engaging with and acknowledging our full histories that these lasting trends are recognized. Bek References and Further Reading: "Amma." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 11 Apr. 2014. academic-eb-com.proxy.seattleu.edu/levels/collegiate/article/Amma/605230. Asante, Molefi K. and Ama Mazama. "Amma." Encyclopedia of African Religion. Edited by Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2009, pp. 40. SAGE Knowledge. 2 Jun 2022, doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412964623.n25. Asante, Molefi K. and Ama Mazama. "Olokun." Encyclopedia of African Religion. Edited by Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2009, pp. 489-90. SAGE Knowledge. 2 Jun 2022, doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412964623.n307. Elnaiem, Mohammed. "The “Deviant” African Genders That Colonialism Condemned." JSTOR Daily, 29 Apr. 2021, daily.jstor.org/the-deviant-african-genders-that-colonialism-condemned/. "Hapi." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 10 Jul. 2008. academic-eb-com.proxy.seattleu.edu/levels/collegiate/article/Hapi/39188. One of the most talked-about elements of literature generation is writer’s block, or when you, as a writer, are struggling to write anything. No ideas are coming to your mind, any document feels overwhelming, and you’re just plain stuck. However, I think there’s another variation of this, one that is commonly referred to as a reading slump.
Reading slumps are often felt when you’re reading for fun and, suddenly, there is nothing you want to do less than read a book, but it’s also something that’s commonly experienced in academic environments. Being asked to read countless pages of dense, literary text for a handful of classes can be super overwhelming and exhausting for many students. More often than not, it becomes too much, and students end up not being able to force themselves to read any content for their classes, no matter how necessary it might be. So, how do you push through when everything in you wants nothing more than to just give up? There are a couple of different steps I take when I'm experiencing fatigue from consuming an abundance of academic reading. For the most part, it depends on how pressing the reading is, but I try to rotate through all of these different options for the best results. 1. Take breaks: If I have a lot of reading to get through in a short period of time, I try to take a break at a regular interval. For some people, this might look like taking a break every 30 minutes or an hour, but for me, it tends to work best to take breaks every 50 or 100 pages. I like to stretch, have a snack, or take a few moments to go on my phone. 2. Divide your reading into bite sized pieces: When I have a bit more time, I try to space my readings out over multiple days. This helps me to stay on top of my deadlines, while also not feeling overwhelmed by having to read a lot in very short timeframes. 3. Reward yourself for progress: At the end of a long day of reading, reward yourself for pushing through and staying on top of your work! Take a walk, make yourself a cup of coffee, or relax with an episode of your favorite show. If you know that a reward will come at the end of a long day, you’re more likely to get through it! An Update One Year Later:
I read every word from last year's post that my nimble, dry hands typed and was overcome with a heavy heart. I was a different person then. But I'm still the same first-gen of my family to be born in America, fighting her identity across two countries where one is home and the other my maker. I've since surrounded myself with more Asian (American) artists, literature, music, Facebook groups—a safe haven of community, a sense of belonging, and a strive to be like that of my idols. But, how much has changed? A year ago, March 16th, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia, eight people were mercilessly killed of which six were Asian women, working in spas and massage parlors. I remember their names popping up on my feed once again in memoriam, and subsequently disappearing the next day. Names that are Americanized or shortened, mispronounced and never corrected, names that stereotype the person before you even meet them. I live in terror, still. Especially for my small stature of a mother and grandmother, who frequent their Vietnamese communities (usually in the high crime and gentrified neighborhood of White Center in West Seattle and Little Saigon in Downtown Seattle) because an American cashier won't understand my grandma's thick Vietnamese accent as she attempts broken English. I don't want to admit that I am conflicted over May, or APIDA Month, but I am hit with this guilt over where attention is distributed to marginalized communities who are mourning their own kin. Black Lives Matter objectively becomes a trend to society, only resurging out of convenience and at the cost of another body lost. Latine and Indigenous communities are still searching for lost sisters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and girls and women everywhere. Middle Eastern families are constantly under scrutiny and Western and domestic forces that leave millions of people, children, adults, or the elderly, dead. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are begrudgingly still the model minority and the fragile and helpless "tiger lily" trope that is an excuse to oversexualize and desensitize us to our own discrimination. I have yet to accept my grief because it is only felt by few. I have yet to see a world that offers love for the communities that need it most. Wherever the news decides to focus on, please remember that we can only hold so much within ourselves. That your grief and sadness is honored even if no one knows, inner or outer circle. We can band together and through our experiences find a common ground that offers opportunity, communal care, and more importantly, a reminder to celebrate who we are aside from our trauma. Our oppression does not diminish our agency. I firmly believe there is power in numbers, and every passing day is another reason why America needs to undergo deep and intense reformation. Maybe you already knew this, and maybe I needed to write these words for me. And so, May still arrives and since then the release of Shang-Chi and its star-studded cast left Asian Americans everywhere cheering for joy. Kumail Nanjiani has become one of the most beloved actors for his humor and good looks. Chloé Zhao and Suni Lee are young, female, Asian gold medalists in both Winter and Summer Olympics. We are reminded of our losses and wins as is the reality of many marginalized groups. Asians (Americans) continue to accomplish "first's" in Hollywood's eyes, but must double our efforts still in exposing injustices that are left unheard and unseen. The finish line is far from visible, but what is most important are the people on the sidelines, whoever shows up, as we make our way forward. As you take in my words, dear reader, I hope that you never forget to love who you are in spite of all that has burdened you. I hope you find victories in both small and big places. I hope one day my children with their Vietnamese blood surging through their veins, and your children, dear reader, never have to question the suffering of others and work to spread love and kindness. April Showers bring May Flowers, and so, May Flowers bring Asians Joy. ____________________________________________________________ May 21st, 2021 Would you believe me if I said I used to want to be white? I was an elementary school kid on the playgrounds with a diverse cohort of students, and yet, a majority of them, even the Asian Americans, thought it was funny to call me a "chink". Not far into my senior year of high school, I had a break-through moment when a teacher outwardly admitted to me that it was hard to distinguish myself and a peer of mine because we looked so similar. I was a Vietnamese American with short hair and donned either a flannel or button-up. My friend was a Chinese American with long hair and wore leggings on a regular basis. Our friends had no problem addressing either of us respectively, so why was it a recurring and arguably acceptable thing for teachers, all of whom were white, to not only lack the effort to remember our names but to try and play it off as a joke? These events are only some of the experiences I have had with individuals, mostly white, who abused their privilege and positionality to then discredit or invalidate my feelings when I called them out or made a game out of how many times someone mistook me for an Asian American that did not at all resemble me. It is hard to celebrate a month where it was not until my senior year of high school that I embraced this part of my identity. It is hard to celebrate a month where I am distraught with news after news of acts of violence against Asian Americans (especially elders) who are bloodied or dead while their perpetrator runs free. It is hard to celebrate a month where even within the confines of my Asian American (emphasis on the latter) and my white partner's home, my racial and ethnic identity are disregarded. And so, I celebrate quietly. I give a "like" to Instagram posts trying to shed light onto this month and reasons why they're proud to be part of the APIDA community. I "hoorah" in solidarity when my Asian American peers passionately speak to me about why this month matters to them. But dear fellow reader, do not mistake my reservedness as not being proud. I am filled with joy and love as much as the next person. I take pride in my identity and the way it intersects with my queerness or other parts of who I am. I love my small wide nose. I love that my eyes switch between having creases or not. I love my thick black hair. I love to say my last name properly because for so long I had pronounced it otherwise. I love my immigrant family and the sacrifices and risks they took to get to America. I love the smell of pho and knowing the difference between spring and egg rolls. I embrace every stereotype, every nuance, every detail that comes from my racial and ethnic identities. And so, I hope dear reader, that when you see someone like me, or anyone who fits within the Asian diaspora, that you understand why such a month exists and its necessity. If I could go back in time when I remained complacent to someone shutting me down or disrespecting me, I would. And yet, it is people like them that gives me all the more incentive to fight back. Because if no one else, who will? Dear reader, the very act of resistance and rebellion is above all else, founded in love. When you walk into the next Asian American restaurant and eat our food, make an effort to learn its history and the correct pronunciation of their name. When you listen to music from Asian artists, do not make fun of our mother tongue simply because the layers of intonation, context, pronunciation, sound funny to you. When you sit to get your nails done, I can assure you that whatever those hard working employees having to deal with your gross feet and hands are saying, is none of your business. Check in on your Asian American friends when the news comes up because I can guarantee they would rather have someone uncomfortably reach out than nothing at all. And more so, do not use this month to forget the persistent efforts of other marginalized groups. The U.S. has thought it upon themselves to dedicate one out of twelve months to celebrate a minority, but for us, it is everyday. I write this out of anger. I write this out of love. I write this and hope that one day, I won't have to worry about going to the store. Thank you for reading. And if you are a fellow Asian American taking the time to read this, thank you as well. I hear you. I see you. I'm with you. -Kimberly Le (daughter of two Vietnamese immigrants) As I write this, it is in the midst of a multitude of collective crises and personal life changes as a full-time student teacher. One thing that I have learned to be true is that I need to take breaks when I can or else I will suffer from severe burnout. Real breaks. “Doomscrolling” on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook in bed is not a break. Doing revisions on a lesson plan is not a break. These things are hard for me to disengage from when I am not actively attending to other things that are school or work related, yet they still tax my brain in a similar way. Being ADHD, it can be hard to slow down without falling asleep, and simply sleeping does not always prevent burnout as I feel like I have no time for myself. For this reason, I typically try to watch a calm or comforting movie or show and eat a small dessert before turning in for the night. I know that the last time that I made a post like this, it was for specifically LGBTQIA+ content. Some of the recommendations below do fit the bill for that, but I did expand the criteria for this post to current media that has been making me feel good lately. tJoe Pera Talks With You (2018-present; Available on Adult Swim, HBO Max, and Hulu) Joe Pera, a fictionalized version of the real-life comedian played by himself, has a soft-spoken and sweet albeit mildly off-beat charm about him. It is a stark contrast to the often chaotic, obscene, and absurd animated series that air on Adult Swim. The series is set in a small Michigan town in which Joe is a middle school choir teacher who narrates his life and inner thoughts. Some episodes are simply about his day trips to get breakfast at a diner or shopping for groceries, though a loose narrative is woven throughout the series. After my partner suggested it to me, I found myself quickly becoming attached to Joe and his loved ones through the most mundane things that occur. The first season has far fewer highs and lows than the second season does, but a lot of subtle build up is done to get there. I would say that the third season is a nice blend of the first two while also having its own unique and unpredictable traits about it. Most of the episodes are nice to rewatch or have on in the background while I do other things, such as “Joe Pera Talks You Back to Sleep.” In that one and many others, Joe tends to go on various tangents which are supported visually onscreen, providing almost an ASMR-esque effect since his voice is very soothing. Even when more complicated situations occur around him or even involving him later on, at no point was I afraid that something too mentally taxing or traumatic would occur. I would definitely recommend checking it out sometime if you want to try something that’s a little different and sweet. Our Flag Means Death (Premiered in 2022; Available on HBO Max) I will try my best to convey how and why I love this series so much currently without spoilers, but it was the ways in which it surprised me that won me over. Though I have been a lifelong pirate fan as well as having viewed Taika Waititi’s work favorably in the past few years, I was reluctant to get too excited over the idea of Our Flag Means Death at first. Between the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and the series Black Sails, mainstream media involving piracy piqued my interest enough, but never left me feeling all that intrigued or satisfied. (The exceptions to that rule were the children’s films Hook and Muppet Treasure Island, of course!) In my view, Waititi and his team took everything enjoyable from what had already been done and then proceeded to also subvert many narratives. Race, sexuality, gender, and class are not shied away from and affect the ensemble of characters in different and intersecting ways, making them relatable and whole. People of color navigate the racism of the mainstream society they are criminals in, multiple main and recurring characters serve as solid LGBTQIA+ representation, and those from different socioeconomic backgrounds exchange perspectives. These factors could be troubling to some viewers, but I found that this series was surprisingly trauma-informed in its handling of many of the characters’ stories. While the series is mostly a comedy and does that well, the way in which the characters all handle trauma from the hardships in their lives is a major part of the first season. Watching some of the interactions between friends and lovers, some of which were previously rivals, was surprisingly beautiful to watch play out! I have very high hopes that this series will not disappoint in the future, which isn’t something that I get to say often!
Their songs from my childhood included “No One” and “Rush,” though “Chemicals React” was my favorite since I’ve always been a bit of a romantic. Eventually, years passed without me having thought about them entirely. This wasn’t out of spite, but instead for probably thinking that either I had outgrown them or that they stopped making music. Goodness, I was wrong about both! Under serendipitous events, one of my best friends invited me to their concert during my spring break and I all too happily obliged! Naturally, I took to relistening to some familiar tracks from my childhood while also discovering plenty of newer content. While the duo did take a hiatus for a few years, they had a comeback in 2015 and have been actively recording and touring since then. Most of their newer work is mellow and heartfelt, while other tracks are more like experimental EDM. A few of my favorites that I found in preparation for the concert are “Pretty Places,” “Slow Dancing,” and “Joan of Arc On The Dancefloor.” Once the time of the concert rolled around, I knew that no matter what they played, I would have a great time. Again, my expectations were blown out of the water! The environment of the concert was remarkably inviting and warm. I credit that largely to Aly and AJ as people and who they draw to their shows. To my luck, they even threw in a few songs from their Disney days, which caused many of their fans to either go wild or tear up (myself included). Beyond the music, they also took time to openly support and encourage those attending to donate to the organizations the TREVOR Project and To Write Love On Her Arms. In my view, these two have held up well for over a decade and I don’t think that it is due to nostalgia alone. If you haven’t heard of them before or, like me, haven’t revisited their work in a while, I would highly recommend checking them out!
- Bek Content warning: Mentions of blood and needles
For those who may not know, I am currently a student teacher! I have been doing my internship at an amazing alternative high school since September and will be there through June. In collaboration with Cascade Regional Blood Center, their Leadership team put on what I believe was their second blood drive of the school year recently. Knowing that there has been a national donation shortage, I was glad to be able to participate for this one since it fell during one of the field weeks I had scheduled to be at the school. It was my very first time doing so and I was excited to help out and participate alongside students and other faculty. That being said, there were a few things that I noticed that stood out to me as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Since I have not been able to legally change my name and gender marker on my official documentation, I knew that providing such information for the donation would be a source of discomfort, but that is not unusual for me. I did try to be as discrete as possible about providing my legal name as my students don’t know me as that at all and I would prefer to keep it that way. Upon checking in, I quietly provided two of the blood center employees with my ID card and verbally stated that I preferred to be called “Bek.” I jokingly remarked that I would also prefer that my legal name wasn’t shared loudly in spite of it being used for documentation purposes because there were students nearby. Being that my name isn’t that different than my legal name, one of the employees that I was joking with quipped back that the students could probably guess what my “real name is.” I didn’t take it personally and simply explained that I’m actually trans and just haven’t had the chance to change my documents yet due to COVID-19 and other personal factors. Both employees were very understanding, and one even asked if I would prefer to have my gender marker set as the other binary option available. Being nonbinary, I thanked them but asked if there was an “X” marker instead, as that is what I am planning to change to on my ID. They shared that their software was really old and that they were not sure if that would be possible until their update next month. However, they did document it as “X” on the document I would keep with me for the duration of the appointment as well as my pronouns, highlighting both. Not only did I find this to be very thoughtful, but it was also nice to speak candidly about my gender identity and ask them about the nuances of how they go about their documentation. Often times in regard to most things medical-related, people get awkward or defensive when I share my gender identity with them, and it can be pretty uncomfortable. The most uncomfortable part (beside some of the latter portion involving a needle) was simply reading through and filling out the survey prior to getting my vitals checked. I was reminded of how regressive the views about LGBTQIA+ people who were assigned male at birth and sex workers are from a medical viewpoint. While I understand that blood centers must be mindful of bloodborne viruses, there were some questions that I felt were missing that could easily apply to more people as well as there being some language present that was rather demeaning to the two prior mentioned groups. It was a moment in which I was able to check my privileges in the situation while also being rather upset about the current state of things, especially during a shortage. This is something that I have discussed at length with my partner, who is a nurse, to ensure that I’m not misunderstanding what is happening. He has confirmed that there is still a big issue with stigma in connection to upholding cisnormativity, heteronormativity and mononormativity in the field, which often results in hypocrisy. My vitals were taken smoothly afterward, and I was eventually paired with a blood center employee who I ended up clicking rather well with. It was one of those delightful moments in which two trans people see each other and can kind of relax a bit. It can be hard to describe, but it typically starts with questions and comments that are approached a bit gingerly such as pronouns and style before devolving into inside jokes. Being paired with this person certainly put me more at ease than I was originally since I was seen for who I am and got to laugh! With that said, my arms ended up betraying me. In spite of being in good health, getting as hydrated as I could, and having “great” veins, neither of my arms provided enough blood at a quick enough pace for me to be able to actually donate the proper amount. It was a noble effort on both of mine, my new friend’s, and another employee’s parts to try to get what they could from either arm, but it just didn’t work out. Though I was pretty disappointed by this, I was still proud to say that I tried and having this first experience was helpful as I now know what to expect. Beyond now knowing what the process is like, I know that the students also saw me there and not only did I cheer them on, but they encouraged me too. As a queer educator, I want to continue to show up in different spaces, even if it makes me uncomfortable at times. Good things are worth doing for the sake of doing them alone, but the visibility comes to mean more when you are a person with multiple marginalized identities and have young people watching you. This experience was a reminder of that for me and provides encouragement to try again and also to stay true to myself when I do so. Additionally, I want to keep asking the hard questions regarding who is singled out due to stigma and how the language used around the process can be more inclusive and accurate. I will include some resources below for those who would like further information about blood donation locally and what the current eligibility requirements are. -Bek Further Reading "Donor Eligibility Rules." Cascade Regional Blood Services, 2020, www.crbs.net/donate/donor-eligibility-rules-update-9-2020/. "LGBTQ+ Donors." American Red Cross Blood Services, www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/lgbtq-donors.html. Last year in two separate classes, I had the opportunity to read Binti, a YA trilogy written by the amazing Nnedi Okorafor, a Black science fiction author. In previous blog posts, I’ve written about other Black female authors, and I knew I had to highlight her. By writing in science fiction, Okorafor stands up for Black women’s voices in a genre where they are minorities or silenced. Historically, sci-fi as a genre has been dominated by white male voices and characters, leaving Octavia E Butler as the first recorded Black female science fiction author in 1987 (BBC). While this fact highlights the importance of having diverse authors and characters, this post will focus specifically on the shift towards Africanfuturism and Afrofuturism in modern sci-fi, how Okorafor’s Binti trilogy plays into that, and major themes. So buckle up, cause this going to be a long one. First, some sci-fi history The term "Afrofuturism" was coined by Mark Dery in 1994 and is a response to whiteness in sci-fi. Afrofuturism dares to explore a future in which Black people can thrive without oppression alongside technological advancements, and is especially daring as Black history is specifically erased so imagining a Black future is extremely powerful (Blerd). Examples of Afrofuturism can be seen in modern pop culture’s Black Panther and Lovecraft Country as well as within Butler’s works (Blerd). Africanfuturism, a term Okorafor coined herself, differs from Afrofuturism since it is directly related to African culture and does not cater to or center the West. An example of the difference would be that Afrofuturism is a Wakandan outpost being built in the US while Africanfuturism would have the outpost built in a neighboring African country (Okorafor). Some major themes in Afrofuturism are the connection between Black women and water, reclamation of agency or history, alienation, and Black feminism (Wiki). To fully understand how Okorafor’s work is ground-breaking, we need to understand the history of science fiction. Science fiction first emerged as a genre around 300 years ago during the Scientific Revolution and Age of Enlightenment, a time of technological and scientific advancement (BBC). However stories containing elements and tropes from sci-fi can be traced back to the 2nd century CE (Wikipedia). Sci-fi focused on the different possible imaginings of what the future could look like and was a safe way to explore and answer philosophical questions, such as what it means to be human (BBC). Initially the genre wrote about unexplored places on the globe which later translated into space travel, time travel, and journeys to the center of the earth in an attempt to continue conquering. Two of the genre’s most influential authors were Mary Shelley and HG Wells (BBC). Shelley helped define what makes a sci-fi novel through Frankenstein (1818), while Wells released several novels, such as The Time Machine (1895) and War of the Worlds (1898) among others. Wells’ novels touched on time travel, aliens, biological engineering, and even invisibility (Wikipedia). Fast forwarding to the 1960s and 70s, science fiction entered a New Wave which involved more experimentation than previous works (Wikipedia). Many authors during this time were experimenting with alternate history, such as Philip K Dick does in his 1962 novel Man in the High Castle. Later Dick released Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? in 1968, which questioned what it means to be alive and how we are empathetic to others (BBC). Ursula Le Guin was also writing during this time and released The Left Hand of Darkness in 1969, which challenged assumptions about gender and is widely considered to be a breakthrough for women within the genre (BBC). In 1987, Octavia E Butler released Dawn, the first novel of a trilogy, and explored gender, race, sexuality, and interspecies reproduction within her novels (BBC). In our contemporary moment, current sci-fi trends are exploring the implications of Internet, bio and nano tech, utopias and post-apocalypses, and environmental concerns (Wikipedia). Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism are also growing a larger focus in our modern moment which adds to the work already being done to dismantle the standard sci-fi protagonist being a white cishet man. When these types of stories only revolve around this singular person, it implies that the genre is solely for them and that by proxy STEM is only for white men. However as society evolves to break down these barriers, I want to celebrate Nnedi Okorafor as an author who represents previously marginalized voices in sci-fi and advocates for Black women through her writing. Nnedi Okorafor Okorafor was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 8, 1974 to Nigerian parents and has been visiting Nigeria since she was young. When she was 13, Okorafor was diagnosed with scoliosis and underwent spinal fusion surgery when she was 19. Unfortunately there was a rare complication and Okorafor was paralyzed from the waist down; however, she was able to regain the ability to walk with a cane after intense physical therapy. Previously, Okorafor was a nationally known tennis and track star, and it was through the end of her athletic career that she began to write creatively for the first time. She took a creative writing class during a spring semester of college after a friend’s suggestion and started writing her first novel by the end of the semester. She got her Bachelors from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Masters in Journalism from Michigan State University, and her Masters and PhD in English from University of Illinois, Chicago. Okorafor won the 2001 Hurston-Wright literary award for her short story “Amphibious Green” and has released other short stories. She went on to release young adult novels and children’s books that won more awards. She released her first young adult novel in 2011 and continued to release more young adult novels. Okorafor started the Binti novella trilogy with Binti in 2015, and released Binti: Home in 2017 and Binti: A Night Masquerade in 2018. In addition to her own writing, Okorafor has also written comics for Marvel, such as “Black Panther: Long Live the King”, “Shuri”, and “LaGuardia”. She currently lives in Olympia Fields, Illinois with her family. (Okorafor, books) Binti Trilogy (spoiler warning!) Binti The first novella in the Binti trilogy follows Binti as she leaves home, and her planet, for the first time to attend Oomza Uni, a renowned college on another planet. Binti is the first in her family, and village, to leave and break tradition, but she is excited to learn more about mathematics as a master harmonizer. Unfortunately the ship she is traveling on is attacked by the Meduse in space and Binti is the only one left alive. Magically an old device called an edan protects Binti, allowing her to live, and then communicate with the Meduse. Binti is able to talk the Meduse out of attacking Oomza Uni and then negotiate a peace treaty between them and the University; however, not without the price of becoming part Meduse herself. Some things to note while reading are the ways race, gender, and culture play a role in the discrimination Binti faces or from characters breaking away from societal norms or traditions. The story has aspects of a traditional coming of age narrative combined with the ideas about the stealing of cultural artifacts for museums and the beginning of posthumanism themes that will continue in the series. Water imagery is also prevalent as an important part of Afrofuturism and this novella starts the conversation about consent that continues throughout the trilogy after Binti becomes part Meduse against her will. Additionally, the trilogy collection comes with the short story Binti: Sacred Fire which includes a trans character and the beginnings of conversations about PTSD. Binti: Home The second novella of the trilogy starts a year after Binti has arrived as Oomza Uni and as Binti decides to return back home to see her family and decides to take her friend Okwu, one of the Meduse, with her. However, Binti is still recovering from/learning to cope with her PTSD from the first novel and has panic attacks that pop up throughout the novel. Once she is home, Binti is excited to see her family but quickly learns that they are not all happy to see her after viewing her leaving as abandoning them. Also hearing about her return, her paternal grandmother from a different tribe arrives and whisks Binti off into the desert, forcing her to learn more about the tribe of Desert People she knew nothing about. Binti is forced to face her prejudices against the Desert People as she learns more about them and the technological alien DNA that lives inside them, as well as her. Ultimately, Binti chooses to activate this alien technology, further distancing herself from her family, and learns that they and Okwu have been attacked by the Khoush, sworn enemies of the Meduse, in her absence. Some things to look for while reading is the theme of posthumanism, which is the re-imagining of humanity by embodying different identities, as well as the way gender roles are enforced or flipped. Also the way mental health (PTSD, panic attacks, and therapy) is discussed in the novel is something to note, since it is usually absent or not so prevalent in other novels, sci-fi or otherwise. Another thing to note is the introduction of climate change and its effects on Earth/Africa, almost suggesting that Binti takes place in our timeline’s future. Binti: A Night Masquerade The third novella picks up right after the second with Binti rushing back to her home village with Mwinyi, one of the Desert People. Additionally, Binti is having trouble adjusting to the activation of the alien nanotech and Mwinyi works to help her to live with and control it. And on top of this, Binti takes it upon herself to stop the impending war between the Meduse and the Khoush, so her village is not further caught up in the conflict and possibly destroyed. The end of the novella explores ideas of polyamory as Binti pursues a relationship with Mwinyi back at Oomza Uni while also acknowledging her connection to Okwu and her paired ship, New Fish. Some things to look at while reading is the continuation of posthumanist themes as Binti continues to grapple with her identity as Himba, Meduse, Enyi Zinariya, and New Fish microbes, and the novella brings up ideas of what family really is. The idea of being a hero savior is also present with parallels to Harry Potter and the humanization of typically inanimate objects as life-savers also plays a role. Additionally, the theme of climate change is continued while the novella’s ending includes a reference to the sterilization of Black women and eugenics. Overall I really enjoyed reading this series, especially since I don’t typically reach for sci-fi novels. It was also a great learning experience about Afrofuturism since I didn’t know much about it beyond Marvel’s Black Panther. While I personally found the ending to the whole trilogy to be a little anticlimactic, I would highly recommend everyone read it since it is a shorter and easier read than other books I’ve had for different classes. However this doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely interesting, action-packed, or lacking in social commentaries. There were a lot of aspects that we analyzed in class and as an aspiring teacher, I would love to take this book into my future classroom and read it with my students. The amount of representation in the novel is important for people to see, especially in a genre where a Black female protagonist isn’t the norm. The trilogy also opens the door to what the future could look like from other cultures and perspectives is a refreshing deviation from the typical white male sci-fi protagonist and male gaze. I hope you check it out and find it as enjoyable as I did! -Sabrina |
SUWC Blog AuthorsAny posts on the SUWC Blog are authored by current consultants working to improve, refine and perfect our practice as peer tutors. Find a Post!
January 2024
Categories |