Friends, book, future, race and ethnicity
Nov. 11th, 2011 08:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sabrinamariSome mornings feel much better than others, and this is one of them. I had a great time last night hanging out with a surprise guest and talking about all kind of things: inner city dynamics, what it's like to be a researcher-anthropologist, and how that differs from being in law enforcement in the city. I threw together a last-minute meal of rice, beans and quesadillas (the emergency meal of this household) and it was well-received and even much enjoyed. That's always nice. Michael had to leave early in the evening, but our friend stuck around and even did the dishes afterwards.
He has promised to read my book and do an Amazon review. I'm really psyched about this because of all the years he spent policing in an inner city environment. If anyone outside of HIV/AIDS research can evaluate my history chapter, it's him. I am deadly curious about what he has to say. Where will he see holes? Where will my experience match his? What did I miss? Law enforcement is a whole different ball game, but I'm curious about what his eyes will catch that I have missed.
The last week has allowed me to focus on my book again. Between the NJWAN conference, my talk to Edgar's class and post-conference networking, I'm starting to wonder where I can go with this. What can I do to apply my knowledge in way that's useful to women and men who are infected/affected today? How can I apply this NOW?
I'm poking at it persistently to see what unfolds.
Next month I'm stopping in here, at SMART University: http://smartuniversity.org/?p=328
I'm going to meet the women who run it and try to figure out what I can do to help. And in the back of my mind is this: what can I learn here that I can bring back to Newark? How can the resourceful women I worked with and their younger peers benefit from this? Is there any way I can connect the Urban Systems class I'll be teaching next semester with what's unfolding in places like SMART University, where women and youth are busily rescuing themselves and each other?
I wonder. I really, really wonder...
****
The other thing that stuck with me: at one point our friend said, "Wait, you're Hispanic?" And I said, "Uh, yeah...you didn't know?" He proceeded to explain that I really don't look Hispanic, and I pointed out that our usual categories of race and ethnicity don't work well for Hispanics, who come in every color of the rainbow. He knew this intellectually, but had somehow missed that I strongly identify as Latin.
It reminded me of something that happened with Michael an entire year after we met for the second time. In the course of a random conversation Michael turned me in shock and said, "Hey...you don't think of yourself as white?" and I looked back and said, "What, you thought I was white?"
Weird, the way our identities don't always match up with the way others see us.
He has promised to read my book and do an Amazon review. I'm really psyched about this because of all the years he spent policing in an inner city environment. If anyone outside of HIV/AIDS research can evaluate my history chapter, it's him. I am deadly curious about what he has to say. Where will he see holes? Where will my experience match his? What did I miss? Law enforcement is a whole different ball game, but I'm curious about what his eyes will catch that I have missed.
The last week has allowed me to focus on my book again. Between the NJWAN conference, my talk to Edgar's class and post-conference networking, I'm starting to wonder where I can go with this. What can I do to apply my knowledge in way that's useful to women and men who are infected/affected today? How can I apply this NOW?
I'm poking at it persistently to see what unfolds.
Next month I'm stopping in here, at SMART University: http://smartuniversity.org/?p=328
I'm going to meet the women who run it and try to figure out what I can do to help. And in the back of my mind is this: what can I learn here that I can bring back to Newark? How can the resourceful women I worked with and their younger peers benefit from this? Is there any way I can connect the Urban Systems class I'll be teaching next semester with what's unfolding in places like SMART University, where women and youth are busily rescuing themselves and each other?
I wonder. I really, really wonder...
****
The other thing that stuck with me: at one point our friend said, "Wait, you're Hispanic?" And I said, "Uh, yeah...you didn't know?" He proceeded to explain that I really don't look Hispanic, and I pointed out that our usual categories of race and ethnicity don't work well for Hispanics, who come in every color of the rainbow. He knew this intellectually, but had somehow missed that I strongly identify as Latin.
It reminded me of something that happened with Michael an entire year after we met for the second time. In the course of a random conversation Michael turned me in shock and said, "Hey...you don't think of yourself as white?" and I looked back and said, "What, you thought I was white?"
Weird, the way our identities don't always match up with the way others see us.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-11-11 02:47 pm (UTC)Send me some professional biographical stuff. Nothing personal; an old resume, any bios you've written, links to blog posts where you talk about your education or work experience. Don't bother to edit anything. Just toss it together and put it in an e-mail.
And there's a time limit: You've got a month.
What's it for? Sssh! It's a secret! I'll give you a hint: it's like that application I pushed you to do, except that you can't submit it; I have to.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-11 03:06 pm (UTC)I will do it.
Thank you.
Latina Pride in October
Date: 2011-11-11 03:41 pm (UTC)Me: If we knew Hispanics? How about your gramam or hgrampa, or Ayi, or any of your aunts, or me. Baby, we ARE Hispanic. Everyone on my saide of the family is Hispanic. YOU are Hispanic too.
Lucie: (Shocked) I am??????
one thing that confuses me about Denver after years of Miami--I don't understand the presence of a Latino UNDER class. Denver may be the heart of Aztlan. Stop acting like immigrants. Act liek the Cubans--if I'm here, this is my palce. If I'm here, I have EVERY RIGHT to work, vote, make art, speak my language, and RUN FOR FUCKING OFFICE. Hispanic underclass--bitch, please.
Re: Latina Pride in October
Date: 2011-11-12 04:03 am (UTC)When my brother was in third grade, he told me a nasty joke with a racial slur aimed at Hispanics. When I explained that he was insulting himself, he was totally angry and shocked.
Because listening to mom speak and curse in Spanish and being tormented for attempting to do what other American kids did as a matter of course was not a sufficient clue. Nor were the hordes of Spanish-speakers at all of our parties or the continual meals of rice and beans. And, like, the celebration of the Feast of the Three Kings in January, where we did the rosary all in Spanish? Not adequately indicative of ethnicity for a third-grader.
I could have told him we were Armenian and he would have believed me just as easily.
Re: Latina Pride in October
Date: 2011-11-12 04:06 am (UTC)"Denver may be the heart of Aztlan".
I wish I knew even one person around here who would get that joke.
Re: Latina Pride in October
Date: 2011-11-12 04:40 am (UTC)http://griegoforcongress.com/
http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legdetails.aspx?SPONCODE=SGRIR
He is the awesome.
He's very cool, way liberal, and takes no shit from anyone, including the Catholic church. When the local priest at his church started giving him shit (from the pulpit!) for living in sin with my sister-in-law and having a baby out of wedlock with her, he cancelled his upcoming church wedding and held it in the Hispanic Cultural Center instead.
I love Eric. He genuinely cares about the health and well-being of people all social classes and is an all-around good guy. I really hope he wins his bid for the House of Representatives.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-11 04:50 pm (UTC)Where is your family from?
no subject
Date: 2011-11-12 04:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-12 11:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-11 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-12 04:05 am (UTC)OK, must put reminder in iPhone for next week.
****
OK, I put in a reminder.