Teaching LGBTQ+ Literature During the Pandemic
During the pandemic, students focused on queer trauma, but next time, I plan to ensure that they also explore queer joy.
COVID-19
Patient Urgency: Reading “The Immortalists” During the Pandemic
The pandemic has amped up my sense of urgency, my desire to make good use of my time. One new action I took was to start a Zoom book club for Mount Mercy English students and faculty this summer. I figured the pandemic would leave many students at loose ends, unable to travel or work, … Read more
White Fragility, Antiracism, Teaching, and Me
Amazon has sold out of antiracist books. Topping the bestseller lists are two titles I read this past semester before the pandemic hit: Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility (2018) and Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be An Antiracist (2019). This post is my response to the pairing. But first, what to make of the book news? … Read more
In Praise of Alliteration: Scriptotherapy and the Pandemic
You may be thinking, Alliteration? Really??? During a pandemic laced with murderous racism and police violence against the press? Let me explain. First of all, I started this post before George Floyd was murdered. And even before the pandemic, I felt like I was playing catch up—my writing unable to keep up with my thoughts, … Read more
In Praise of Mixed Feelings
One practice that is helping me through the pandemic so far is the effort to embrace both/and thinking, paradox, and mixed feelings.