“Nappy Edges” Recap & Announcements

Thanks to Nicole and Nia for giving us a lot to think about.  I wanted to highlight Nichole’s final question as something we might also focus on in for colored girls . . . “In what ways does Shange’s poetry invoke the ‘spiritual ethic’ (Collins 286). How does she implement the ‘ancient link between art, ritual and religion” in her poetry (Collins 286)”?

Please don’t forget that I tweaked the syllabus a bit. Instead of reading all three essays from S&F Online, you should pick the essay that best matches your interest. Again, the choices are:

• Diggs, “Black Feminist Collectivity in Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf “
• Sullivan, “walkin on the edges of the galaxy”: Queer Choreopoetic Thought in the African Diaspora
• Valdés, “There is No Incongruence Here”: Hispanic Notes in the Works of Ntozake Shange

There are so many exciting events coming up:

• the BOLD book group is doing a live reading of for colored girls . . . this Monday,  October 5th at 5:45pm. At the Courtyard Marriott on 1717 Broadway (Entrance on 54th) 4th Floor. I’ll be leaving from campus at around 5:15 if anyone wants to go.
• bell hooks is conducting a week of discussions at the New School from October 5-9
• Nicole recommends Pueblo Harlem, October 10 from 11am-7pm.  It will be at the Harlem School of the Arts on 141 and St. Nicholas Avenue. It might get you in the mood for talking about Shange’s interest in Caribbean/Nuyorican/Latin@ cultures.
• Coincidentally, MadibaMist is having a screening/discussion of Thomas Allen Harris’ critically acclaimed film, “Through a Lens Darkly” (which is on the syllabus for next semester) on 10/10 **not free**

Zaki is coming to class on October 22 and October 23rd.

This will involve some adjustment of the syllabus–stay tuned for details.

I’ve added a new “music blogpost” prompt. You aren’t obligated to do it, but you might want to try it on  week you are stuck for something to write (and it will encourage you to start incorporating media into your posts!