Against the backdrop of the University of Georgia Chapel, a group of 50 people assembled to listen as prominent Jamaican-American author Michelle Cliff came to read sections of her writings and discuss her unique perspective of the gay and lesbian world as part of the Andrea Carson Coley Lecture Series.
The annual event sponsored by the family of deceased Women’s Studies Certificate student Andrea Coley, brings to campus outstanding scholars in the field of lesbian and gay studies. On Friday, April 17, Cliff became the 15th guest speaker for the event and followed a long line of distinguished scholars. Garnett Stokes, the Dean of Franklin’s College of Arts and Sciences, emphasized the depth of knowledge and distinction within this lecture series. “This event brings writers, thinkers, and activists. Michelle is a prolific and influential writer,” said Stokes.
On Friday, Cliff read excerpts of “Everything is now,” a collection of short fiction stories that draw heavily on Cliff’s real-life experiences in Jamaica and abroad. Her first reading “What would it be like,” explores an outsider’s perspective on Jamaica’s strong homophobic history. After the event, Cliff expounded upon the homophonic past of her home country and stated she had not been back since 1975. “Today Jamaica is more homophobic and advocates for the physical destruction of the gay community. Lesbians are known as sodomites,” said Cliff.
Two reoccurring themes resonate throughout most of Cliff’s writings: the complexities of being interracial and the power of friendship. Cliff’s stories always include a dominant friendship that cross social, gender, or race lines and provide a triumph of imagination. Even in real life, Cliff’s own life story provides a “really wonderful model of lesbian love,” said Chris Cuomo, the Director of Women’s Studies and a previous Coley Lecture Series speaker. Cliff has been partners with Adrienne Rich, a renowned poet, since 1976.
Although today Cliff is considered an important writer in the lesbian and gay field, she did not begin writing until she was 30. Relating a story from her childhood, Cliff explained to the crowd gathered that when she was a girl her parents read her diary to her entire family on the veranda of her home; this incident, although many years ago, had a “silencing effect” on her until she reached her 30’s. This event, her childhood in Jamaica, and her subsequent years abroad have had a strong influence on Cliff’s writings.
“I think my background and my opportunities to taste different cultures have had a strong influence on my writing,” said Cliff.
Although born in Jamaica, Cliff was educated at Wagner College in New York City and at the Warburg Institute at the University of London. In addition, Cliff has also held positions at Emory University and Trinity College.
After the event, Assistant Director of Women’s Studies, Cecilia Herles, stressed the importance of Cliff’s lecture. “This lecture helped raise awareness of lesbian and gay issues. It was touching and poignant and I think her work is an important step to acknowledge these issues,” said Herles.
“Everything is now” is available on pre-order and will be on sale May 5. For more information on Michelle Cliff or the Andrea Carson Coley Lecture Series, please visit the UGA Women’s Studies homepage.
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2 comments:
Hillary,
Your lead is really long! Also, too much background on the event at the top and not enough of what she said throughout the story. But the story is well written and an enjoyable read. The reader is left wanting more. Your quotes about Jamaica's intolerance are good. Because this speech story is so personal about the speaker and is in a way a mini-profile of her, I think a featurey lead might work better here. Something like:
"As a child, Michelle Cliff felt silenced. When she was 30, the Jamaican writer found her voice in prose. On Friday, the now prominent gay and lesbian author spoke out."
Overall, good job.
This speaker sounds really interesting. It would have been nice to hear what she had to say. I'll have to look her up. But anyway, I feel like you wrote in the order that it happened but all in all great job!
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