Opening Plenary by bell hooks
Reconciliation: A Reflection presented by bell hooks, Distinguished Visiting Writer, Berea College
posted by brd @ 5:03 AM
4 comments
Friday, June 02, 2006
Reconciliation: A Reflection presented by bell hooks, Distinguished Visiting Writer, Berea College
posted by brd @ 5:03 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Denise and I were just discussing over breakfast how we couldn't sleep last night thinking. I woke up at 2 and then again at 5. It was incredible that we were able to share our hearts instantaneously.
All of the sudden we weren't sitting in a room as writers, we were just people.
It was so important that bell hooks cried, it gave us permission to be vulnerable and transparent with each other.
When the lights went out just when she started to cry, it was a spiritual moment. The creator gave her privacy.
Maria and Denise
affirmed by Wilma and Judy
Wow! What an ice breaker bell! The activity effectively demonstrated the depth of emotion that surrounds death. Thank you for starting the conference out with a bang while simultaneously showing us that we are human. This on-going process of humanization is valuable for all!
Molly Swick
When I think of dying I feel angry and sad. "I'm not ready," I scream. "This can't be all the time I get." That's my perspective, but--yesterday I a Divine appointment. The woman in front of me at the post office is a childhood friend. I only recognized her when she turned around. "Diane," I said, "it's Katie." I had heard she has cancer. She had a cap pulled down over her bald head. We stood and talked right there in the p.o. for about twenty minutes.
She said, "When I found out about the cancer, I was frantic. but now things are falling into place. I'm OK now. Will this happen for me?
This is Tess Evans, not anonymous. I was struck by bell hook's reinforcement of the idea of writing as process, which is part of my fear of being pubished. As she noted, once your words are "out there," they are permanent and others may not understand you have moved beyond where you were when those words were written. I've wondered how she could be so brave to write what she has, and it encouraged me to learn she has also had reservations and pain about the consequences of being so public.
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