The Alvearie

I’ve forgotten to celebrate myself amidst all the chaos–personal, political, academic. I’m proud of being able to do work in my community and in the scholarly world, which is a difficult balance that I feel like I’m never really balancing. But let me commemorate the past few months, and get out of my head.

After organizing a panel on queer / BIPOC history in Anne Arundel County with Annapolis Pride and the Coalition for LGBTQ+ Students in June, I was asked to be a part of a discussion for the Caucus of African American Leaders focused on action and policy in the local queer communities. Both were beautiful experiences to be a part of as a AACPS girlie, and be a visible Black queer femme talking for/to/within my communities.

I presented on my dissertation work at the American Folklore Society Annual Meeting–my second time presenting for AFS! I love being in community with others dedicated to telling community (hi)stories, especially because academic expectations don’t apply at AFS–it is the quality of how you are in community that matters.

Me and fellow Black Language dreamer-scholar Lindsey Allen (she/they) presented as part of the Genders and Sexualities Equality Assembly (GSEA) roundtable session at this year’s National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention on being Black queer teacher-educators bringing our full selves into the classroom.