February 1987: Posing at Hiran Minar, outside Lahore “These photos were taken when we went to Hiran Minar,” artist Ali Mehdi Zaidi told me via a WhatsApp call after...
Read more21 Nov, 2020
14 Nov, 2020
six-feet-apart….
14 Nov, 2020
Six-feet-apart signage in Los Angeles at a health clinic, a grocery store and at a taqueria When the pandemic first broke out, signs were temporary—masking tape for pickup lines...
Read more31 May, 2020
to the helicopter reporter who referred to the men ransacking the adidas store as “cockroaches”…”
31 May, 2020
To the NBC4 helicopter reporter who referred to the men ransacking the adidas store as “cockroaches:” Last night, I watched as you offered commentary from your helicopter about the...
Read more24 Apr, 2020
“the present is a transit lounge…”
24 Apr, 2020
Arundhati Roy talking with Imani Perry on YouTube; organized by Haymarket Books Yesterday morning, I disrupted my schedule to listen to Arundhati Roy’s conversation with Imani Perry, The Pandemic...
Read more10 Apr, 2020
end of week 4: lockdown & discrepancies . . .
10 Apr, 2020
staying home; enjoying California blood oranges Two weeks ago, once LA county closed hiking trails, beaches, and parks, my family and I have maintained sanity by walking in our...
Read more17 Mar, 2020
“the new normal”…
17 Mar, 2020
photograph by Richshell Allen, Pasadena City College photographer – “What compelled you to write about social justice issues?”– “How do you push past ‘writers block?'”– “Can you talk about...
Read more14 Mar, 2020
charcoal, cancellations, & social distancing…
14 Mar, 2020
Yesterday, I took blank paper and charcoal and zero instructions for my storytelling workshop participants The situation changes from one hour to the next, and the conversations that I...
Read more14 Nov, 2019
“instead of retiring, I’m refiring…”
14 Nov, 2019
Writers including Peggy DoBreer, Hazel Harrison, Angela Franklin, Tanya Ho Kong, Jessica Ceballos y Campbell participating in a conversation with Luis Rodriguez at Avenue 50 Studio “Instead of retiring, I’m...
Read more29 Oct, 2019
unexpected intersections…
29 Oct, 2019
Selfies: With Bettina Ng’weno (L); Sharon Fabriz (R) “I remember us facilitating Rice Writing Project sessions at the Rice School and how even then you had the title in mind....
Read more30 Jul, 2019
macondo2019 after a tough take-off…
30 Jul, 2019
Workshop participants Reyna Grande, Macarena Hernández, Olivia Meña, Amelia María de la Luz Montes and partner, Liliana Valenzuela, Fan Wu, and Macondo board member Pat Aldrete with Sandra Cisneros and Ruth Behar at Liberty Bar “I’m...
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