Holidays and Winter Break Reading

Sending a quick holiday greeting your way... that's if you're up and reading blogs during this time of year.

What books did you receive, buy, or download during the holidays? Always interested in what people are reading. Share here!

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Lambda Literary Emerging Writers Retreat

If you're an emerging writer who identifies as LGBT, and especially a Queer Person of Color, consider applying to the Summer 2015 Lambda Literary Writers Retreat.

Applications due January 5, 2015.

Retreat, if accepted, takes place in late June/early July 2015.

Fiction. Non-fiction. Playwriting. Poetry. Genre. All these workshops are available.
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Jacqueline Woodson. Brown Girl Dreaming. Code Switch interview.

I first heard about Jacqueline Woodson  a few weeks back, when she won a National Book Award for her memoir Brown Girl Dreaming.

Last weekend, the #Nerdland community and I saw her do an interview on Melissa Harris Perry on MSNBC. That prompted me to buy the book.

Today, I heard an interview with the author on NPR's Code Switch, which will prompt me to read the book.

Winter break reading dilemma over. :-)
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Winter break reading recommendations?

Good morning. With winter holiday season upon us, we'll have a little downtime to do some reading for fun. My question... What are you reading? What do you plan to read over the winter holiday season?

Pearl Cleage. Potential Lovers. Future Friends. Re-Setting The Bar.

Pearl Cleage, one of my favorite authors, spoke at Cal State LA in May 2014. In one speech, she advised all of us that we need to set the bar high for potential lovers & partners, by making any potential read & discuss with you 5 books that speak to your life/identity. Brilliant.

With that in mind, many of my Social Justice friends have been surprised by some of our "friends" and their opinions on Ferguson, Black people, police brutality, etc... Perhaps we've set the bar low for potential friends. Perhaps "being fun/ny" isn't enough of a bar for friendship.

In the brilliance & wisdom of Pearl Cleage... If we're going to re-set the bar with potential future friends, what 5 questions do we need to ask (before the friendship develops or goes further) that will give us the information we need about where they stand on Justice, Social Justice, Being Socially-Conscious, etc... All suggestions and potential questions taken below. 

Have at it... for the Social Justice & Friendship Litmus Test. And while at it, check out all the brilliant books and plays by Pearl Cleage.

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