the hummingbird’s tongue

I had a moment yesterday when I wanted to quit teaching. As soon as I submitted my grades, the whining began…no matter how clear you are about the course requirements, no matter how many opportunities you give to earn extra credit, there are always a few students who think you owe them something more. I [...]

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remix

Yesterday was not my best teaching day. I try to let my students express themselves in class, and I try to listen patiently even when problematic ideas are coming out of their mouths. After all, the point is to figure out where they’re starting from—what they know now so that we can try to move [...]

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boys on film

My head’s full of stories but I haven’t allowed myself to sit and write. The fall semester starts in less than two weeks and I’ve been obsessing over my syllabi; new courses are always a challenge, especially when the course (African Civilization) falls outside my area of expertise. I like the course I’ve designed, and [...]

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bad blood

I’ve written three thousand words over the past couple of days. Funny how everything comes all at once. I saw a scene unfold while I was on the train a couple of weeks ago, but never bothered to write it down. Then I read a gentle, quiet book and by the time I was done, [...]

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writing rape

I’m waiting for the latest proof of One Eye Open to arrive. During our self-publishing event in Toronto last month, someone asked us to break down the steps involved in publishing your own book. I tried to explain that the steps change with each book because you’re accumulating more and more knowledge. They’re now considering [...]

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fight the good fight

Keep an eye out for this film on changing the misrepresentation of women and girls:

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the woman I have become

That’s the title of a powerful film given to me by Notisha Massaquoi, Executive Director of Women’s Health in Women’s Hands—the *only* health center in all of Canada to focus on the particular needs of women of color.  The Woman I Have Become (directed by Alison Duke) follows several African and Caribbean women in Toronto [...]

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for our daughters

Yesterday I was interviewed for an upcoming film, For Our Daughters.  When the producer, Eric McKay, asked me to participate—I tried to get out of it!  I’ve never been in a film, and after watching the above clip with its reference to the matriarchy MYTH, I was pretty sure my opinion as a black feminist [...]

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The Mariposa Club

Thanks to Amanda and Jodie, The Mariposa Club started off at the top of my TBR list following the Book Blogger Convention in late May.  And even though I finished it a couple of weeks ago, the distinct voices of the characters are still fresh in my mind.  This is one of the most original [...]

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AGO?

Are you listening?  Ame!  Good, I have your attention.  Actually, AGO refers to the Art Gallery of Ontario.  No, I am not going to start another rant about race and Canada.  I just want to point out that Kenyan-born (Brooklyn-based) artist Wangechi Mutu has an exhibit in Toronto right now—I will *definitely* check it out [...]

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