If you were in my family, you’d know that’s what I say when something’s going on or going wrong or needs to have someone’s attention drawn to it. Like the time my sister and I were in a fabric store and a whole rack of giant bolts of cloth began to fall on me. “Hey,” I said — not shouted, just said it, maybe a little louder than usual — “Hey.” And my sister, at the front of the store, knew something must be happening, so she got the owner and came to my rescue.
So, hey. Nothing’s going on or wrong here, but I did want to draw your attention. Stubbornly, I’m refusing to change my ‘About’ page, but I want more ‘About’-style information, so … here we are.
How to describe myself? A string of adjectives?
- a woman
- a black woman
- a fat, black woman
- a tall, fat, black woman
- an opinionated, tall, fat, black woman
But that gets tired. And there’s still more to go. So, who am I? I am a:
- Brooklynite
- adult education director and teacher
- caretaker and dogsbody for two unruly kittenboys
- writer of fiction, essays and the occasional poem
- sometime ranter and raver
- _________________________________
- _________________________________
Here I am, being typically camera shy, foiling the lovely Celeste’s attempt to get a good photo of me:
(Of course, I chose a picture of me in Jamaica. How not? It’s where I see myself, where I am the most myself. Besides, dig my skin … I look good in Jamaica!)
Ok, now it’s just gone on too long, hasn’t it? Have you got a better idea of who this griot girl is?
No? Well then, here’s a sampling of posts that can maybe fill in some blanks, maybe do a better job at introducing and explaining than this “Hey” page is doing by itself:
How are we feeling? — Denise Duhamel’s poem takes off with my students
Hidden Sister — when your family’s not all present and accounted for
Teacher, counselor … — more from the classroom
A little Morphine to get me through the day … — love and other complications
Acquitted. — the start of my public ache over the verdict in the Bell murder trial
I can’t put this down. — more on the Bell verdict
Notes from the jumble in my brain … — more Bell
Andy Gibb Remix: I Just Want to Be Your … — love and other complications
Only wild animals act like that. — taking the memoir to a dark place …
Maybe the sun will in my back door some day? — babymaking: what a long, strange trip it’s been
Domino Effect — my students and I talk possibilities
Choking on a Wishbone — Gates Gate, Part I
Oh, I see. Profiling is colorblind, and we all over-reacted about Professor Gates. — Gates Gate, Part II
Back on the Street – a personal survey of street harassment
Saartjie, Semenya and Me — the outrage of black female-ness
Street walking — the outrage of prostitution
I hope you’ll read a little, comment a little, visit once in a while …
