Writing as #Allyship

Summer 2020 -- our country is facing, again, the reality of racism people of color deal with on a daily basis. Precipitated by the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis, peaceful protests are cropping up in every state. The college at which I teach, Hudson County Community College, has responded to the protests by offering several online programs/webinars/panels. Recently I was on a panel on Allyship. "An ‘ally’ is someone who has privilege, but chooses to stand for and with marginalized communities* by taking tangible, ongoing actions to dismantle systems of oppression. *‘Marginalized communities’ are those who are targeted by oppression, including but not limited to: people of color, Muslims, immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ people, women and people with disabilities." http://www.ywcahbg.org/

Here is one list of some of the main tenets of allyship: 

1. Listen
2. Get educated
3. Get involved
4. Show up
5. Speak up
6. Intervene
7. Welcome discomfort
8. Learn from your mistakes
9. Stay engaged
10. Donate

I'd like to add one to the list--writing. 

Think of all the things you write, all the audiences you write for, and the ways you engage in discussions with others online. If you're engaged in social media, you probably read posts on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. If you see a post that astonishes, educates, or surprises you, there is a good chance you will re-tweet, or re-post. If you're concerned with social justice, you might retweet a post calling for better oversight of police officers, or not cutting programs for the poor, or not stripping away the protection of the Voting Rights Act. Those re-tweets and re-posts are an act of allyship. Anyone can be an ally.

Writing as allyship isn't limited to social media. Think about the creative writing you engage in. Do you write poetry? I'd be willing to bet some of your poems have a message, and you have demonstrated allyship. Do you write short stories or novels? Have you embodied allyship in the characterization or the plot?

As I pondered this concept of allyship and writing, I thought about the two novels I have written and realized the novels themselves are a form of allyship! Remnant, my first novel, is about the daughter and sister of Olaudah Equiano, a Nigerian who was captured in 1754 and wrote the first slave narrative, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Drawing attention to historical slaves and descendants of slaves, personalizing them, is one way to enliven history, educate readers while entertaining them, and writing as an ally to the Black community. 

My recent novel features a Deaf family. By portraying Deaf characters as three-dimensional people with loves, preferences, careers, and dreams like anyone else--emphasizing that the Deaf and hearing characters are alike in every way except their degree of hearing, I write as an ally to the Deaf community.

Think about it. How are you an ally in your writing?

"I am not throwing away my shot" - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Inspiration, and Persevering in writing

I had heard the rave reviews of the smash-hit/blockbuster/phenomenon known as Hamilton for a few years ... I finally saw Hamilton on July 4th, locked in my air-conditioned room trying to block out the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers and tuning in to the sublime music and acting that makes Hamilton so unique.

I loved it! Since then I have listened to the music over and over (I'm listening now) and I plan to see it again soon, trying to rope in some of my family members to watch it with me.

Forgive me for presuming, but I have sensed a few parallels between Lin-Manuel Miranda and me.

1. He read a book that inspired him - Ron Chernow's biography of Hamilton.
    I read a book that inspired me - The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano.

2. He spent years working on the music for Hamilton the musical.

    I spent years researching Equiano's life and that of his daughter, Joanna Vassa.

3. He built a world for theater-goers and movie-watchers to inhabit for a few hours.

    I built a world--Nigeria and South Carolina in the mid 18th century; England in the early

   19th century, for readers to inhabit for a few days.

4. He fashioned a compelling story about a complex man--Alexander Hamilton.

    I attempted to fashion a compelling story about a complex man--Olaudah Equiano.

5. He taught some American history while entertaining audiences.

    I teach some American and British history in my historical novel.

5. He wrote an award-winning musical, as both composer and lyricist, attracting millions to the stage and screen.

    I wrote....

Well, that may be where the parallels end. I did write a historical novel about the daughter and sister of Olaudah Equiano--Remnant. I am passionate about Equiano's life and telling his story. I researched for years and wrote for years. And yet, my novel is not yet published.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has inspired me to not "throw away my shot." I am returning to the novel into which I put my heart and soul, and will keep revising. Then I'll send it out into the world of publishing again. But if all else fails, I'll self-publish. I have resisted self-publishing, but it may be the best route for Remnant in the current publishing climate. Stay tuned...

Have you written a novel or short story or poem? Have you tried to get it published? Don't give up! Keep sending it out there into the world. Don't throw away your shot!