The Caribbean Woman Writer as Scholar: Imagining/Theorizing/Creating
May 30 - June 3, 2006, Hollywood, Florida
At the end of this month, I will be presenting a paper at the Caribbean Woman Writer as Scholar Conference, put together by African New World Studies at FIU. I have received the preliminary program and it looks to be a jam packed conference with presentations, art, performance and good company. Some of the topics include: Caribbean Spirituality; Race, Nation and Imagination in Caribbean Women's Writing; Zami, Sexuality and the Politics of Desire; Beyond the Mother Construct; Language, Voice and Caribbean Women Writers; and Unpacking Masculinities.
Here is a brief description of my presentation:
The Rests between the Beats: Addressing the Silencing of a Voice
In addressing the systematic silencing of Caribbean women, we often look to the outside world for rationale. However, just as internalized racism causes much harm, so too does internal silencing. For women who self-identify as artists, scholars, writers or activists, the time in between “productive” activity can produce a heavy burden. These women may feel a loss of self-esteem, self-worth or direction. Or, they may simply abandon their passion along the way. This work in progress attempts to uncover women’s views on this silent period, and how their internal dialogue is exists with societal systems of racism, sexism and homophobia. This work will be part of a larger work in which I address the ways in which Afro-Caribbean women utilize their bodies to explore theories on exile and displacement.
2 comments:
I think this is an innovative take on a subject that really hasn't been explored enough. In some cases the silence is by "choice"; it goes in cycles, and in some cases we don't even realize that something has caused us to shut down. Any awareness and understanding of this topic is sure to help direct and control this silence better, instead of having it control us.
wow,
this sounds so interesting and necessary. i wish i were closeby so i could attend that amazing event. i'd love to learn more about your work, too.
i agree with anonymous - it is very necessary to explore this silence in your community [and in the community of women of color, more broadly] in order to find ways to end it and to make the invisible visible.
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