Hey all!
I’m narrowing down the list of MFA programs I’m applying to and since I’m a brown, Muslim woman from a developing country, I’ve been thinking a lot about diversity. Can you guys list the programs where I could become acquainted with works by white men while also being surrounded by them (faculty, students, anything, lol)? GO!!
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
Some of the programs that I’m looking into will require me to TA and write teaching statements for my apps. I’ll be teaching mostly white kids and want to make sure I make them feel included. Do you have any special advice on how to make the stories and poems we read relevant to them? IDEAS PLEASE!!!
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
DONE WITH APPS!! Whew. Finally have some time to do reading on my own and was thinking about trying out some poetry by straight, white, heteronormative men!! Do you know of any? RECS??
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
Love you guys!! Your suggestions for poetry by white people were awesome! Am also thinking about reading fiction by straight, white, heteronormative men (will also settle for white women suggestions, ha-ha). RECS???
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
OMG!!!! I found this amazing list online about works by white people (mostly men!!).Thought you’d guys like it to too! Check it out —> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_canon
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
I AM FREAKING OUT! Got into two programs!!!!! The first one’s offering me $25K a year, but the grad student who reached out to me is an African-American woman. Uh-oh. The other’s going to make me pay full tuition, but the program is 100% white. Ugh! I’m really trying weigh the pros and cons against each other but it’s SO HARD. Think I might just flip a coin instead :(
Peace,
Zehra
EDIT: Feel my initial post was too negative and realize I should show more gratitude about even being considered as an aspiring writer by these MFA programs. BTW, did I ever tell you guys about the time in high school I spent a summer in North America volunteering for a charity? Thanks to that experience I have so much respect for white people and their struggles, and I can’t wait to return in a few months to keep learning more!
Hey all!
This is probably old news, but I read this amazeballs article about how V. S. Naipaul says he can tell from the first couple of paragraphs of a novel if the author is male or female. He actually uses the phrase “feminine tosh” to describe how sentimental women’s writing it. HILARIOUS. YOU MUST MUST READ IT!
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
Feeling so #inspired by Naipaul. Was thinking maybe we could play a fun game in which we list in the comments how works by women are inferior to works by men. Double points if it’s a woman of color, triple if she’s gay/genderqueer. GO!!!
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
I’ve been reflecting since yesterday about how my last two posts were totally out of line. I didn’t even realize until you all pointed out in your comments how I, as a brown woman, have been forcing the ideas of a brown writer (I thought Naipul would pass, but I was clearly in the wrong) down your throats instead of finding a superior, white version of him who you’d be better able to relate to. I also didn’t realize how incredibly presumptuous it was for me to assume you all would have to read works by women to be able to make fun of them in the first place. It was incredibly insensitive of me. I’m been trying to be so aware about these things and I feel I’ve not only let you guys down, but have also let myself down.
Peace (& apologies),
Zehra
Hey all!
Anyone here heard of Jonathan Franzen? I’ve heard he does a great job capturing the male, white experience…
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
Know this isn’t the place for political messages, but just want to say #AllLivesMatter.
Peace (& Solidarity),
Zehra
Hey all!
This question is specifically for the white people in the group. I’ll be starting classes in a few weeks and was wondering what I can do to make people like you feel more welcomed in the program. I’ve also been thinking about how my characters are mostly brown women (I have a couple of brown men as minor characters, but I know it’s not enough to capture the breadth of the male experience) and how that may alienate you all. How can I make my writing more inclusive? Should I have more white, male characters? My worry is that may come across as Occidentalist :(
Peace,
Zehra
Hey all!
Ugh. I just got done with MFA orientation. Over email they were really selling me on diversity, but when I got there it wasn’t ACTUAL diversity. I don’t want to be in a place where non-white people threaten white people and make them feel conscious about their white privilege. THAT’S NOT OK! Now more so than ever, it’s SO important for MFA programs to offer safe spaces for white people (especially white men!) where they can work on their craft without worrying about political correctness and all that stuff. SMH. White people, I want you to know that you have allies like me who you can reach out to. PM me if you want to talk about the pressures of conforming to multiculturalism, transnationalism, and feminism. I’m here for you.
Peace (& hang in there)
Zehra