To mark a new era

Darity Jr, William A., and A. Kirsten Mullen. From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century. UNC Press Books, 2020.
Like everybody else I have been pondering what I want to see happen, in this era that we enter today. I returned to a book that I read this last summer. I believe that we will not complete the work of the Reconstruction until we have tackled the question of economic inequality. It’s time to start studying reparations. Darity highlights H.R. 40.
A friend has reminded me that our representatives are our employees. Please reach out to your representatives and ask that this be introduced and passed. I believe it is time for true change.

What I read as an ebook

A hold that I placed through nypl.orverdrive.com quite a while ago popped up on my ipad yesterday.  I have spent the time since then glued to Intimations by Zadie Smith. Caused me to realize how comfortable it is to read on my ipad.

I really recommend Intimations: Six Essays In particular her description of racism as a virus really rings true.

I think what’s important is that I am reading. Paper and ebooks both have their benefits.I simply want to read more, and finish more books in 2021.

 

The importance of public libraries (and paper again)

Wiegand, Wayne A. Part of our lives: A people’s history of the American public library. Oxford University Press, 2015.
        One of the articles I read recently really recommended Wayne Wiegand’s history of public libraries. Because I could not get it digitally, I opted for borrowing it in paper from my local public library. I buzzed through it in less than a week, completely enchanted. Among other things the author does an excellent job of addressing the racist history of public libraries in the south. This is a beautiful reminder of the unique mission of public libraries, please read it if you haven’t already.
       I was reminded of something I already knew. I love public libraries. They are a fundamentally important part of each community. When I retire, if I am well enough, I intend to volunteer at my local public library. I honor their mission.
       So two things I will leave you with. The best thing I can do for my public library today is contribute to their circulation statistics. I want to urge my readers to support your local public library. The other thing that has got a hold of me is starting to read paper again. All of the conversations about it being more tiring to read digitally have come back to me. I am making a habit of a paper book in the last hour before sleep. I seem to be sleeping better. This is my project for 2021.

What’s missing

What’s Missing
I have taken this virus very seriously because I do not tolerate any respiratory infections easily. This may be due to CP. Early on in the pandemic I found a document from the CDC that listed CP as a risk factor for serious illness. So myself and my spouse have had some pretty strict boundaries since March. So far it is working. I am grateful each day to be well.
This virus is problematic for two reasons. First: A person can be a carrier without appearing ill. Second: They don’t know why some people are hit harder than others. Some have long terms health problems. Some don’t make it. Enough don’t make it that Covid-19 has become a leading cause of death among some age groups in this country. This is a fact.
What about people who know lots of people who have sailed through this virus with no problem? Statistics are meaningless to some people if they don’t lose anybody. Why get a vaccine? As I started thinking about this way of thinking I found a startling lack of empathy. In some ways I find this similar to ableism. Both are based on an assumption of wellness and a lack of concern for people who are not so fortunate. Empathy became a major theme of my research. I don’t know how to teach empathy.
Our book has been delayed. It is now expected in March.

The Heroes of the 21st Century

My reference desk has gone very quiet. During the intersession there are just a couple of us around, so I try to help by sitting with the chat interface open. If I try to multitask to much I will miss the questions when they do come in. So I have been catching up on podcasts.
One of the things that it is interesting to consider is the impact of individuals at the turning points of the world. I truly recommend the most recent episode of this American life. (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/727/boulder-v-hill)
The image of the head of vaccine research at the NIH collapsing in tears of joy upon hearing the the vaccine trials were successful is simply precious. The crews that fight wildfires and the doctors and the scientists are the heroes of the 21st Century.
Take what actions you can to stay safe and healthy this holiday season.

In honor of Veteran’s Day

I postponed writing this because I had a really busy week. I knew that I wanted to write about this story, but  I didn’t realize that it connected with Veteran’s Day until I reopened it.  So, I’m late, but I hope you enjoy this story.

I don’t read a lot of fiction, but what I sometimes pick up is short stories. That’s how I ended up with “Uncommon Type: Some Stories” by Tom Hanks (Knopf, 2017).  The story “Christmas Eve 1953” got stuck in my head. This is the story of Virgil Beuell, who came back from World War II service with an artificial leg and missing some fingers on one of his hands. Virgil reminds me to also be really grateful for heat and hot water. “After buying the house, he self-installed a furnace that was far oversized for the modest home. He put in, too, a beast of a hot-water heater…” It’s a lovely story, honoring Virgil’s success as a “working man,” his passion for his wife, and his love for his kids.  Finally his annual connection with his buddy from the service. We learn about his war service, how he met his beloved wife,  and how he got injured.
So I recommend this story, in honor of our wounded veterans, who come back as members of the disabled community.

 

What drives my research

One the central issues of my writing, and of my research in the area of disabilities studies, is a journey of self acceptance.  I have cerebral palsy. I am a hemiplegic, which means that my right side is challenged. I am what is called “high functioning.” I am able to walk. It is different and I require support, but I get the job done.
I continue to get into trouble because my athletic soul calls me to do things that are mismatched with these facts.  This last Spring I developed tendonitis because I over exercised.  That’s why I say that my emotional and physical journey is about realigning my insides to match my outsides.
The discovery of disability studies allowed me to take a big step forward in self acceptance.  I kept seeing my life reflected in what I was reading.

What am I reading right now

Reading List:
  • Kerschbaum, Stephanie L., Laura T. Eisenman, and James M. Jones. Negotiating Disability : Disclosure and Higher Education Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2017
  • Evans, Nancy J, Ellen M Broido, Kirsten R Brown, Autumn K Wilke, and Todd K Herriott. Disability in Higher Education: A Social Justice Approach. Disability in Higher Education. Somerset: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2017.
I think I have stated before that I am in the very early stages of my next book project.  The working title is  “A Truly Representative Faculty: Disabled Faculty and Multiple Identities.”  The first stage is reading widely. Kerschbaum  was useful. I am just starting Evans, appreciating it both of as an example of how to build a book, and  to be able to report to the publisher how this book is different.  I do recommend both of them.  
 
The plan is to take a couple of years for this one.  The plan is to do a survey and focus groups.  We want to get past the pandemic for this one. 

An important book for academics to read

Gutiérrez y Muhs, Gabriella, Yolanda Flores Niemann, Carmen G. González, and Angela P. Harris. “Presumed incompetent: The intersections of race and class for women in academia.” University Press of Colorado (2012).

This is an amazing book. It’s quite long, so it took some commitment to finish it. I recommend it for women BIPOC, but I also recommend it for everyone who is interested in the academy. I think I should read the last chapter a couple of times, and consider how I am called to change the world.

There is actually a second volume, but I don’t yet have access to it. If that becomes possible, I am all in.

I read this because I am going to be a new book proposal. The topic is disabled faculty and multiple identities.

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