I was one of those “bright eyed students” who, lo these many years ago, encountered the Beats and was beguiled by their peripatetic, thrill-seeking vision. I’m ashamed of how long it took me to figure out who was invisible or treated as a prop. Your stringent and fair critique reminds me, too, of my encounter with Amira Baraka’s Dutchman when I was 15. I was flummoxed by the piece—by its anger and unapologetic, show-stopping violence. The difference between my reaction to Kerouac & co. and Dutchman might have sown the seeds of some real learning in the hands of a wise teacher in a carefully crafted curriculum. Thanks for this!
Jamie, thanks so much for your lovely comment. I think you hit the nail on the head - the shallowness (my description) of the Beats due to their cultural appropriation means we learn very little from them except for maybe aesthetics. With Baraka, there's evolution, generations of resistance, meaning and authenticity. We learn!
I received your private message as well Jamie - I am running my walking tour the weekend after next and will reply to you then with some more info. I'd be more than happy to recommend you places in Tyrone - perhaps your family and I could meet for a cuppa when you're over this way and figuring out your genealogy. The research centre at the Ulster American Folk Park might be of interest to you as well - they are slowly starting to weave slave-owning histories with their tales of the diaspora - and are experts in tracing families who emigrated.
When I saw the subject of this in my email, I first thought it was from Lithub and thought, "I must send that to Maeve." I'm glad you wrote this because I was recently telling someone about the photo and poem of "who took the picture of you three?" Of course I couldn't remember the details and tried to search handouts from our course and couldn't find it.
Not on the theme of the Beats but related to whiteness, I've also been meaning to tell you about 2 non-white--one immigrant, one African--novels I've read recently with gothic duality/divided personality themes. They are LaDivine by Marie NDiaye and A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi.
I was one of those “bright eyed students” who, lo these many years ago, encountered the Beats and was beguiled by their peripatetic, thrill-seeking vision. I’m ashamed of how long it took me to figure out who was invisible or treated as a prop. Your stringent and fair critique reminds me, too, of my encounter with Amira Baraka’s Dutchman when I was 15. I was flummoxed by the piece—by its anger and unapologetic, show-stopping violence. The difference between my reaction to Kerouac & co. and Dutchman might have sown the seeds of some real learning in the hands of a wise teacher in a carefully crafted curriculum. Thanks for this!
Jamie, thanks so much for your lovely comment. I think you hit the nail on the head - the shallowness (my description) of the Beats due to their cultural appropriation means we learn very little from them except for maybe aesthetics. With Baraka, there's evolution, generations of resistance, meaning and authenticity. We learn!
I received your private message as well Jamie - I am running my walking tour the weekend after next and will reply to you then with some more info. I'd be more than happy to recommend you places in Tyrone - perhaps your family and I could meet for a cuppa when you're over this way and figuring out your genealogy. The research centre at the Ulster American Folk Park might be of interest to you as well - they are slowly starting to weave slave-owning histories with their tales of the diaspora - and are experts in tracing families who emigrated.
Best wishes!
Love this, so brilliant x
When I saw the subject of this in my email, I first thought it was from Lithub and thought, "I must send that to Maeve." I'm glad you wrote this because I was recently telling someone about the photo and poem of "who took the picture of you three?" Of course I couldn't remember the details and tried to search handouts from our course and couldn't find it.
Thank you so much for reading Celeste! I can email you the slides again if you want!
Such a striking poem from Kyger - I'll never forget it.
That would be great.
Not on the theme of the Beats but related to whiteness, I've also been meaning to tell you about 2 non-white--one immigrant, one African--novels I've read recently with gothic duality/divided personality themes. They are LaDivine by Marie NDiaye and A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi.
Celeste, I'll email you at the weekend! I will look up these novels, thank you so much for the recommendation! Let's try and catch up soon IRL! <3