Category: ernest j gaines

“You, the white people, invented race”: Now Ask Yourself Why!

When most people think about racism and oppression they think about the oppressed. They think about individuals who live under the heel of the oppressor. They think about the atrocities that the oppressor commits. They think about the acts of resistance against the oppressor. They do this and then they label it “the Negro problem” or “the Jewish question,” placing the onus of the … Read More “You, the white people, invented race”: Now Ask Yourself Why!

Short Story Collection Syllabus

This semester, I am teaching four different courses, with four different preps. When thinking about these courses, I wanted to make sure that I had a firm grounding in the majority of the material to make it a little easier on myself when it came to class prep. So, for two of these courses I decided to construct the courses around texts and themes … Read More Short Story Collection Syllabus

“Critical Consciousness” and Pedagogy in Ernest Gaines’ “The Sky is Gray”

During my educational career, I sat in countless classroom regurgitating information back to the one at the head of the classroom who held my grades and my future in their hands. I felt, for the most part, disconnected from any of my experiences or reality. That does not mean that the information I learned did not relate to my life; it just means that … Read More “Critical Consciousness” and Pedagogy in Ernest Gaines’ “The Sky is Gray”

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Ernest Gaines’ “Catherine Carmier” at 60

This years marks some major anniversaries for some of my favorite writers. Earlier in the year I wrote about the 75th anniversary of Lillian Smith’s memoir Killers of the Dream, and she also has two other major anniversaries this year: the 80th of her debut novel Strange Fruit and the 70th of her next memoir The Journey. Along with these milestones, 2024 also marks the 60th anniversary of Ernest … Read More Ernest Gaines’ “Catherine Carmier” at 60

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The Opening Kaare Andrews’ “Iron Fist”

Ever since I first picked up trade versions of Kaare Andrews’ 2014 Iron Fist: The Living Weapon run, I’ve been enthralled. Initially, the artwork and Andrews’ commentary, throughout, on whiteness and capitalism really stood out. The latter is a theme that runs through his equally amazing Renato Jones: The One% (2016). Recently, I started rereading Iron Fist, and what really grabbed me this time … Read More The Opening Kaare Andrews’ “Iron Fist”