Conversations
“My Time Was Spent Years Ago”: A Conversation with Writers and Mothers Aimee Phan and Julia Fierro
HER KIND: Poet Camille Dungy prompted this May conversation for HK. She writes: "Once I heard Judith Ortiz Cofer say she had to 'steal time from herself' in order to write. When I heard her, I thought I knew what she meant, but now, at this early hour of the morning, having chosen not to sleep, not to make my lunch for the day, not to exercise, and not to use the last hour snuggling with my … [Read More...]
On My Mind
Immi: Sit El-Habayib (My Mother: Queen of the Beloved)
In my early college days, friends used to come to my house to play trivia, all brainy classmates at the University of Illinois in Urbana, mostly Desi and Arab girlfriends, and mama would effortlessly whoop all our butts. Her smart, sassy attitude and her cooking made me popular (still does). I was sort of a “townie,” but we had just moved there from the deep South, which rendered us quite the … [Read More...]
Lady In the House
My Name Is Pariah
“Ping,” said my colleagues when they learned my promotion denial, “just stay quiet till a new president and provost, and you’ll have no problem to be promoted.” “Ping,” said another, “if you make ‘noise,’ no college will ever want you, no matter how breathtaking your resume is.” “Ping, don’t complain to the human rights department if you still want to teach here. … [Read More...]
Global Woman
Outside
Over the years, I worked as cook, secretary, landscaper, sporting towel folder, greenhouse worker. I attended night school, community college, applied for every grant I could get my hands on so I could finish my undergraduate degree at Berea College, where I was a weaver and a teaching assistant as I studied literature and philosophy. After graduation, I found myself employed at a childcare … [Read More...]
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