In just two days Whitewater’s own professors Alexis Piper and Rossitza Ivanova will speak about Native American literature in their presentation From Early Orators to Today’s Second Renaissance in Native American Literature: Using Language to Re-Make, Resist, Uplift, and Empower.
Thursday, March 25,2021 from 5 to 6 pm CST
This event is sponsored by the Native American Cultural Awareness Association (NACAA) student organization at UW-Whitewater
Here are few books from featured writers that the UW System libraries have:
American Indian Stories by Zitkala-Ša (1985) – Andersen Main Collection E99.Y25 Z57 1985 & Lenox Main Collection E98.F6 Z58 2003
The Book of Medicines: Poems by Linda Hogan (1993) – Andersen Main Collection PS3558.O34726 B66 1993
From the Deep Woods to Civilization; Chapters in the Autobiography of an Indian by Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa) (1916) – Andersen Library Main Collection E90 .E14 E14 1923
Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot (2018) – borrow with UW Request
Indian Heroes and Great Chieftans by Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa) (1918) – Andersen Library Main Collection E89 .E13
Old Indian Days by Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa) (1991) – Lenox Library Main Collection PS3509.A748 O4 1991
The Removed, A Novel by Brandon Hobson (2021) – borrow with UW Request
Savings: Poems by Linda Hogan (1988) – Andersen Main Collection PS3558 .O34726 S28 1988
Seeing Through the Sun by Linda Hogan (1985) – Andersen Main Collection PS3558 .O34726 S4 1985
The Soul of the Indian: An Interpretation by Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa) (1980) –
Andersen Library Main Collection E98.R3 E15 1980
There There by Tommy Orange – borrow with UW Request
The Woman who Watches over the World: A Native Memoir by Linda Hogan (2001) – Lenox Main Collection PS3558.O34726 Z47 2001
B. J. Fogg researches human behavior at Stanford University and shares his method for creating lasting positive changes: starting small by breaking behaviors down into smaller parts and changing your environment to help set yourself up for success. This short, engaging book sets out easily followed steps from planning the changes to following through with your new habits.
If you want more information about the method, or want some social support and feedback on your tiny habits, there is a website with more information and ways to find support groups: tinyhabits.com.
Tiny Habits:
The Small Changes That Change Everything
by B.J. Fogg
Browsing Collection, 2nd Floor BF335 .F56 2020
Posted innew stuff tuesdays|Comments Off on Tiny Habits (New Stuff Tuesday)
Nearer term, how about a nice car or renting your own place after graduation?
If so, then you should care about your credit score! Even if it seems to be a very fuzzy concept, that number can have a big impact on your life, from getting a car loan or an apartment lease, to getting approved for a credit card.
The good news is, you can take steps right now to help build yourself a good credit score. Budgeting is part of that, as well as just setting yourself up now with good credit-building habits. Learn how from our local on-campus expert, Emily Calhoun of the UW Credit Union.
Tuesday, March 30, at 5:30-6:30, via Webex. Join with the link here, or scan the QR code below.
The queen of Civil War-era historical fiction is back with another re-enactment focusing on the character of Mary Lincoln — telling the story through the figures surrounding the first lady. Chiaverini’s admiration for and understanding of the woman and the time are evidenced in several of her other books, notably Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival, and, more broadly for the entire Civil War time period, The Spymistress, Fates & Traitors, and Mrs. Grant & Madame Jule.
We tend to hear about first ladies primarily in their time in the White House, but this book focuses on Mary Todd Lincoln as a girl and then in the 1870s, when (after years of public criticism, losing her husband, three of her four sons, and being placed in an insane asylum by her remaining son), she attempts suicide. As in her other books, Chiaverini deftly weaves in multiple voices and different time periods to provide a well-rounded picture of the character, her weaknesses and strengths. It is only near the very end that we actually hear from Mary herself.
Among other things, I learned from researching this entry that Ms. Chiaverini is a Wisconsin author, living just up the road in Madison! Another reason for historical fiction fans to try one of her books! 🙂
Mrs. Lincoln’s Sisters by Jennifer Chiaverini New Arrivals, 2nd Floor PS3553 .H473 M77 2020
On Thursday, March 18 at 5 pm the Native American Cultural Awareness Association (NACAA) is hosting a presentation by Danielle McKinney on the Brothertown Indian Nation.
Several hundred years ago, the Brothertown formed as a new indigenous Nation with individuals from other East Coast tribes. Danielle McKinney will discuss their unique relationship with the emerging United States Government as the “only civilized” Indians up to the present day; where the Brothertown’s national identity has been weaponized against them in their fight for Federal Acknowledgement.
This online presentation is free and open to the public. It will be held on Webex at https://geturl.uww.edu/2c4
In 1969, Dr. David Rueben wrote a very controversial book entitled, Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask. This was the book to read if you were an inquisitive teen in the 70s, and I, as well as many of my peers, carried their dog-eared paperback versions in their backpacks. After reading Acho’s book, I thought that this easily could have been named, Everything You Wanted Know About a Black Man, But Were Afraid to Ask. To understand complex issues, a guide is sometimes necessary to assist in answering questions that are intriguing, but dare not be asked.
The purpose of the book Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man is Acho’s personal gift to us all. He recognizes that it is uncomfortable to ask, but the burning intrigue is still there, so he makes it easy in that he discloses and the reader can learn without exoticizing a race or gender. Often the fascination and spectacle of a subject can in fact be a derogatory exclamation of objectification. No person wants to be treated as an object or a museum piece. Acho recognizes this and becomes the reader’s personal docent. He acts as a guide or teacher so that the reader can understand the subjectivity, nuance, and subtlety of the Black man and not simply gaze in wonder at the object.
Mr. Acho is a former National Football League linebacker from the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns. Due to multiple injuries his career was short-lived, but he parlayed his University of Texas-Austin business degree, communication skills, and football acumen to become a sports analyst for ESPN. In early summer 2020, Acho began a series of video interviews entitled, “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man,” hoping to address issues of race in America. The book of the same name was released on November 10, 2020, which sold 18,000 copies in its first day.
To culminate Black History Month, the Division of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Support Programs sponsored a panel to discuss the book. I had the incredible opportunity to be on the panel. Our moderator, was Aaron Broadwater, a young man seeking his master’s degree here at UW-Whitewater. Mr. Broadwater was masterful as he navigated the three panelists through the provocative book which dealt with topics pertaining to White Privilege, the N-Word, Angry Black Men, Systemic Racism, Thug Life, and Interracial Coupling. The book was divided into three parts – Part I: You and Me, Part II: Us and Them, and Part III: We. Each chapter consisted of an introduction to the topic, “Let’s Rewind” – a history lesson; “Let’s Get Uncomfortable” – in which the author unpacks the authenticity of the topic; and “Talk It, Walk It” – resources to engage further in the topic.
I found the book to be an extremely fast read that was informative, engaging, and real. I recommend the book for any person who have questions about Black men and their successes, barriers, and cultural attributes shared with unbridled transparency. To better understand the book, watch the recorded discussion below, and follow the outline of the moderator’s script for the panel on the book Uncomfortable Conversation with a Black Man.
Moderator Outline:
Event Introduction Notes
This is not an uptight type of segment or discussion it’s realistic and real. – questions you may have thought of but were nervous to ask, get answered in this book and we hope to answer in our discussion today
Each chapter title starts with a question, each of which is from a real email the author received in response to his podcasts and video series.
The first two parts are titled “You and Me” and “Us and Them” because to get anywhere with these uncomfortable conversations, we need to acknowledge that we’re starting from different places.
The last part is titled “We” because after addressing some of our differences of experience and gaps in understanding there’s also so much room for Black and White Americans to work together, to understand, and empathize with each other’s humanity.
Part I: “You and Me”
Section 4: The Mythical Me – Angry Black Men
Amy’s Question: “I have unfortunately encountered many Black people who seem hellbent on hanging the history of slavery and racism and inequality around every single White person’s neck. Who are unwilling to give grace if we ask questions to try and understand how we can be better. They are angry and I’m not saying it isn’t justified—anger is a form of grief and its allowed to a degree within the law. But if we all genuinely want to move forward, this is an obvious problem.”
Question: Regarding the previously stated question what would be your response to Amy? And does her response push forward the angry black man theory?
*Follow up question: What are your thoughts on the angry Black man theory? And how do you feel that effects the black community?
* Laurie Cassidy’s article “The Myth of the Dangerous Black Man” she invites the reader into a thought experiment – – – Imagine you are walking down a dark city street at night, and encountering a trio of young black men what would you do?
Question: How has demonizing the Black man affected the way you move in White society? *Follow up question- Do you all believe other races are equally disturbed by the myth of the angry Black man and what’s happens as a resort of this myth?
Section 3: The False Start – White Privilege
Maria’s Question: “Do you believe that, with time, White privilege can be eliminated? “Race doesn’t really exist for you because it has never been a barrier. Black folks don’t have a choice”
-White Privilege defined: “Say you and I are in a race and the starting line official held me back for the first two hundred meters, giving you a two- hundred-meter head start. If that were to happen, the only way to level out that race would be to either stop you from running or out me on a bike to catch up to you”
Question: What are your thoughts regarding the term “White Privilege” and why do you believe the term White Privilege is not fully agreed on or accepted by certain people within the White community?
-Explaining the difference in starting positions in our race: Starting Point Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation,
What about the argument that there are rich Black people, are they still un-privileged? Note: “White privilege is about the word White, not rich. It’s having advantage built into your life. Not saying your life hasn’t been hard; it’s saying your skin color hasn’t contributed to the difficulty in your life.”
Question: What are your thoughts on Equity vs. Equality? What is the difference and why do you feel it is important to understand both?
Part II: “Us and Them”
Section 1: The House Always Wins – Systemic Racism
Brianne Question: “What systems are racist that need to be changed now? I have heard arguments about things related to housing and schools not being as well funded, which both seem to be more economic issues than race issues. I can see how in the past the now-grandparent generation may have suffered from racism under redlining and other practices that are now illegal. I also see how that can have lingering effects. However, I see those racist issues as having been dealt with.” Question:Referencing the previously stated question what are your thoughts regarding the final statement made by Brianne “I see those racist issues as having been dealt with.” What would your response be?
*Follow up question – What are your thoughts when White people claim poverty is an economic issue instead of a race issue? Do you agree or disagree and can you explain?
– Systematic Racism is the legitimizing of every dynamic, historic, cultural, political, economic, institutional, and person-to-person that gives advantages to White people, while at the same time producing a whole host of terrible effects for Black people and other people of color
Question: Does systematic racism help make it the national norm to utilize unfair treatment of people of color? If you can could you explain your thoughts?
Section 2 – Thug Life/Justice for Some
John Dilulio quote: “They kill or maim on impulse, without any intelligible motive… The buzz of impulsive violence, the vacant stares and smiles, and the remorseless eyes… they quite literally have no concept of the future… They place zero value on the lives of their victims, whom they reflexively dehumanize… capable of committing the most heinous acts of physical violence for the most trivial reasons… for as long as their youthful energies hold out, they will do what comes ‘naturally’: murder, rape, rob, assault, burglarize, deal deadly drugs, and get high.”
Super Predator term: Introduced 1995 in the White House, by Princeton Professor and criminologist John Dilulio who introduced President Clinton to the term “Super Predator.”
Question: What are the long-term implications of this type of classification on the Black community? Does this give the masses the ammunition to further demonize the Black community?
* Most violent crimes against White people are perpetrated by White people. “People generally commit crimes against people of the same race.”
Question: What is your take on “Black-on-Black” violence and how its portrayed in the media? Why don’t we highlight “White-on-White” violence? * Follow up question- How is “Black-on-Black” crime a misleading term without proper context?
Question: Why don’t we hear people referencing white people killing White people as “White-on-White” crime?
Part III: “We”
Section 2: Good Trouble – Fighting for Change
“Why aren’t the people obeying direct orders from police? Why are they resisting arrest? Any light you could shed on this would be greatly appreciated.”
Question:When hearing these types of statements especially during the social justice turmoil we are experiencing today, how does this make you feel?
When thinking about protests, riots, rebellion and massacre who gets to decide which is which, and then how do they get to enforce those decisions?
Question:What are your thoughts on how different movements or groups of people are classified? Is there a bigger issue at play that we need to discuss?
Question:What are your thoughts on the different ways an oppressed group deals with social injustice issues? Do you have an idea on what is the best course of action is or should be?
Section 3: Your Presence is Requested – How to Be an Ally
Michael’s question: “So, my question is, on the daily, on the street, what is the best way for me to let someone know that I care? That I am an ally? That I feel their pain? I want to learn more and to help if I can. With sincerity, and compassion, and without coming across as fake or with an ulterior motive?”
Question: If you three where asked this specific question how would you respond? Where can a potential ally start if they want to do more for marginalized groups
Ally defined – an ally is a person from an empowered group who acts to help an oppressed group, even if it costs them the benefits of theory power. As an ally you must be willing to risk your White privilege in the name of justice and equality for marginalized voices.
Want some just-for-fun reading to take a break from school?
Like to talk about books?
Then come join our student book club! Discussion meetings will be Tuesday, April 6, 13, and 27, at 2-3:00, via Webex. Sign up to join here. Books are distributed free in mid-March, and it’s OK if you can’t make every meeting!
The book (part of the Big Read, which will include multiple events in the campus and community, and online performances via live stream) is The Latehomecomer: A Hmong family memoir, by Kao Kalia Yang.
The author was born in 1980 while her family lived in refugee camps in Thailand after the Laotian “secret war.” This memoir tells the story of her family’s travails and eventual move to the Minneapolis area. The Hmong are an ethnic people-group originally from areas of China and Laos, who fought with the U.S.A., against the communists, during the Vietnam War of the 1960s and ’70s. After the war’s end, the communists targeted the Hmong for elimination. Some fled and eventually were able to come to America.
Minneapolis, MN contains the largest Hmong urban population in the U.S., but many have settled in and enriched Wisconsin too. Come enjoy a multicultural read, learn about a culture and history that may be new to you, and indulge your love of talking about a good book!
For a couple of years, I went through a phase of reading only books about the ocean. It all started with Moby Dick. And then I had to find out the real story behind the whale, so I continued with In the Heart of the Sea — and then I was hooked. Some of my favorites are Two Years Before the Mast and Mutiny on the Bounty — both are as much about human nature as about life at sea.
My infatuation with the ocean eventually began to ebb, but I’ll still pick up the occasional book about the wide blue seas if it happens to drift my way. Naturally, the Future Sea caught my attention on the New Arrivals Island.
It’s pretty frightening how careless we’ve been with our oceans by overfishing, water and air pollution, garbage dumping, and plastic waste. But this book offers hope that it’s not too late to reverse the damage and change things up.
The author is a marine researcher and award winning environmental writer. In addition to outlining the various aspects of the problems, she concentrates on the ways law and policy can help reclaim the health of the oceans for its inhabitants as well as for humans.
Future Sea: How to Rescue and Protect the World’s Oceans Deborah Rowan Wright New Arrivals, 2nd Floor QH 541.5 .S3 W75 2020
This Thursday, February 18 at 5 pm the Native American Cultural Awareness Association (NACAA) is hosting a presentation by Carol Schumacher. She will be talking about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on her own family and more broadly the Navajo Nation. Having lost 12 family members in December 2020, she has a lot to share. “We Are Invisible | WE ARE STILL HERE”
This online presentation is free and open to the public. It will be held on Webex at https://geturl.uww.edu/2c4
Posted incampus connection|TaggedCOVID-19, Navajo|Comments Off on We Are Invisible | WE ARE STILL HERE – COVID-19 Among the Navajo
Those of you who have been following this blog know that I love reading. I have profound respect for librarians and I am a purest pertaining to print media of all forms. I see librarians and print media as the foundation of literacy development, and learning to read is an act of emancipation for disenfranchised learners.
Since I am such a prolific reader, I read a wide variety of periodicals, and yes, I do subscribe, and yes, they still arrive in the postal mail to my house. My monthly magazines include: Sports Illustrated, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, the Advocate, Time, GQ, Entertainment Weekly, People, Southern Living, and my monthly favorite, Essence. The reason I love Essence magazine is because it captures the current trends as well as history of Black women culture through fashion, cosmetology, travel, human interests, and, of course, literature. I first read the review of Training School for Negro Girlsin the Essence magazine. When I saw the cover and read the word “Girls,” I thought immediately that it was a book for adolescent Black girls who would be taught the truisms of life, like how to be “Black girl proud” and exemplify one’s “Black girl magic.” I immediately ordered the book and could not wait to read it.
I read the first chapter that was entitled “Who Are We,” and it was about a group of Black teenagers on the bus terrorizing White and senior patrons. It was the worst nightmare of any White person and the most stereotypical behavior exhibited by Black teenagers. I was upset with the chapter because it focused on all of the fears I ever had about how White folks would perceive young Black folk. It was outright shameful. And then I realized maybe that was exactly what the author wanted to provoke, so I was eager to read the next chapter to see how this story would develop.
The next chapter was entitled “Cicada,” and as started to read, I realized this provocatively tilted book was not a novel, but a collection of short stories, and whatever training Negro girls or any reader was going to get from this book would come from the woven collective and not the continuous narrative. Needless to say, I was truly captivated as the stories continued to flow from Black women through the “irony and tragi-comedy of respectability onto a wide-ranging cast of characters, all of whom call Washington, DC, home.” The stories unfold as “A “woke” millennial tries to fight gentrification, only to learn she’s part of the problem; a grade school teacher dreams of a better DC, only to take out her frustrations on her students; and a young piano player wins a competition, only to learn the prize is worthless. Ultimately, they are confronted with the fact that respectability does not equal freedom. Instead, they must learn to trust their own conflicted judgment and fight to create their own sense of space and self” (Six Bridges Book Festival).
Beneath larger themes of gentrification and race, these stories pulse with vitality as ordinary people look for a future in a world that doesn’t expect them to have one. Frustration takes varied forms—in a college applicant who is desperate to escape her peers; in a TSA agent whose mistake inspires others to worsen the moment with a lie. When a joyous outcome does happen, such as winning a piano competition, it’s tainted by another girl’s behavior. Despair doesn’t take over. Instead, calibrated defeats build toward endings that linger. Amid darkening scenarios, love still seeps through: in an aging mother’s advice, in a father who drives through the city while lecturing his daughter, in a younger sister who watches her brother breaking (Karen Rigby, Forward Reviews).
At the end of the book, I finally understood that this composite of stories was training school for the world and not just Black girls. We learn best through the lived experiences of others and this book solidifies our common humanity.
