I returned to America swearing I’d never date a white man. In ten years, I’d come a long way from insisting white people could be trusted. My contempt for their inability to see both their privilege and the pervasiveness of racism was the imprint left behind from thousands of micro- and macro-aggressions—or what my heart … Continue reading The Race Chronicles–Movement 4: Old Haunts, New Grace
It was remarkable I ever moved to Laos. I’d turned down grad school in Hawaii because it was too hot. My adult life had been one extended migration north for cooler temperatures, at some point calling New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington state home. I hated hot weather and by extension the beach, tropical vacations, and summer. … Continue reading The Race Chronicles—Movement 3: Black Beauty
In a way, moving to China after college provided an escape from what felt like the oppressive and other-erasing ubiquity of whiteness. I was still one of only a few blacks, but to the Chinese that made me a novelty. I worked hard at Mandarin and dove deep into Chinese pop culture, history, and arts. Chinese people … Continue reading The Race Chronicles—Movement 2: Monsters
“You can’t trust white people,” went the familiar refrain growing up. It wasn’t said with malice. Rather, it was said with the same matter-of-factness as “look both ways before crossing” or “don’t touch the stovetop.” The implication was “…or you will get hurt.” If anyone could keep up the pretense of caring, it was white people. … Continue reading The Race Chronicles—Movement 1: Trust
I thought I'd experiment with a new series on my blog where I tell the stories behind some of my favorite things. Today I bring you the backstory to my favorite band. * * It started with a guitar. The summer between finishing college and moving to China I started to learn. I had studied music education as … Continue reading My Favorite Things: The Road to Radwimps
Feet Cry Mercy 