Here are samples from some of my favorite published writings. I occasionally write for Digital Journal, and more articles can be found at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/user/868714/news.
Diversity
in your fiction? Yes you can (and probably should)
Published by Write Magazine
As a black writer, is it possible
for me to create
subtle, nuanced, believable white
characters?
And if I did, would I receive the
same kind of
acceptance as, say, Kathryn
Stockett, a white
woman whose bestselling first novel
set in the
early 1960s was primarily from the
point of view
of Southern black domestic workers?
My answer to all these questions is
“yes”. Yes, you can create characters from races and culture
other than your own. Yes, you can find acceptance for works featuring
those characters. But the path may not be straight and smooth. Even
Stockett encountered difficulties — her book was rejected by some
60 literary agents before one agreed to send it out to publishers.
Regardless, her book’s eventual success proves that in the West,
the only hurdle to writing an in depth work featuring characters from
another race or culture is the author’s willingness to do the
research and bravely interact with members of that community with an
open mind.
But still, I want you to keep in
mind something very important. There will always be differences
between writing from the perspective of your culture, and writing
about that culture or race as, for want of a better term, an
outsider. What’s the main difference? I think it’s probably
nuance. If you’ve never experienced racism, how could you write
about the small details? How could you fully understand the real
emotional impact?
A
Different Kind of Kendrik Lamar – Album Review
Published
by Digital Journal
http://www.digitaljournal.com/a-and-e/music/review-a-different-kind-of-kendrick-lamar/article/428839
But
the Great America Songbook wasn't jazz until Ella touched it. Jazz
was a genre of mostly Black innovators, that challenged traditional
composition convention. They created their own scale structures, and
musical languages. Many lost their burlesque licenses, and unable to
play in venues like the Cotton Club, these musicians found refuge and
fans in places like San Francisco's Fillmore District. For a certain
generation, jazz was the music of rebellion. Jazz musicians often
crossed paths with beatniks. It's at such crossroads that beat
poetry, and the amalgamation of music and poetry became a prominent
part of US music history.
In
some moments Kendrick borrows directly from this lineage, his pacing,
meter, delivery and theme sound more like a member of the Last Poets
is performing than a modern day rapper. In others, he is the
quintessential rapper.
Creative
Writing as Martial Art? Part 2 – Blog Post/Opinionated Editorial
Published
by Open Book Toronto
Step
one is acknowledging that writing is a martial art. Words have power.
To this day, in many countries the first people executed in times of
war are poets. In the West this may be lost, but we have the power to
move masses. Creative literature can be used in defence – a
rebuttal to false allegations. We all know the writing of Hurricane
Carter. Writing can attack. There's apparently a well known book of
Canadian literature in which a betrayed poetess outlines the real
life betrayal of her poet partner. Slow literature, which may be
brief, meanders within the details of the journey. It's all there.
If
we all acknowledge our writing as a part of our martial way we can
respect the power of each word and then perfect it. This is why
reading is the most important thing that a writer does. Why many of
us were encouraged to memorize poems in our youth. Such behaviour is
akin to practising kata. Reading is free. Go to a library, borrow
books from friends, find a quiet corner in a book store; if you
consider yourself a writer this is the most important thing you will
do. What you read is important as well. Only read junk for study.
Have a list of classic and contemporary writers that you are always
seeking. Go as wide as possible. If that means reading Japanese manga
for inspiration, then read manga. Take as many positive things you
can find, from as many fields of writing you can imagine. And then,
throw away the bad lessons.