The Daily OrangeProverbs illustrate Jamaican activist's political messages
By Jackie Saunders
Posted: 2/9/06, 12:25 AM EST Section: Pulp
Waving his hands and reaching for his water bottle, the Jamaican-American author and activist informs his audience there are more profane proverbs he could entertain them with, but instead he will go with his favorite.
"You will soon learn how the water walks and finds it's way into a pumpkin belly," said Thomas Glave in perfect Jamaican Patois.
Often told to youngsters who were too promiscuous or inquisitive for their own good, the proverb opened last night's reading and discussion of Glave's most recent book, "Words to our Now: Imagination and Dissent."
Many organizations, including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, the Division of Student Affairs and the African-American studies department, invited Glave, an assistant professor of English, general literature and rhetoric at State University of New York-Binghamton, to engage and challenge the audience. His selected readings covered the topics of Abu Ghraib, the War in Iraq and his struggles with personal identity.
"His identity as a Jamaican gay man plays an important role in his writing," said Adrea Jaehnig, director of the LGBT Resource Center. "His message invites all of us to consider a better world."
From the tale of a child called Shehe, who is both male and female and dreams of tamarins, mangoes and a world free of capitalist oppression, to the essay relating Abu Ghraib to lynching in America, Glave's message is profoundly simple and earnest.
"There is a lack of human connection needed to look beyond labels," Glave said. He referred to an article in the gay issues magazine, Out, and criticized the question posed, "Is the War in Iraq an LGBT issue?"
"What that question says to me is that there are certain things that aren't LGBT issues, such as foreign policy, immigration and welfare reform," Glave said. "Immigration has a direct effect on my family."
A frequent guest at Syracuse University, Glave was a panelist for the regional LGBT conference last fall and spoke for the African-American studies department.
"You will soon learn how the water walks and finds it's way into a pumpkin belly," said Thomas Glave in perfect Jamaican Patois.
Often told to youngsters who were too promiscuous or inquisitive for their own good, the proverb opened last night's reading and discussion of Glave's most recent book, "Words to our Now: Imagination and Dissent."
Many organizations, including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, the Division of Student Affairs and the African-American studies department, invited Glave, an assistant professor of English, general literature and rhetoric at State University of New York-Binghamton, to engage and challenge the audience. His selected readings covered the topics of Abu Ghraib, the War in Iraq and his struggles with personal identity.
"His identity as a Jamaican gay man plays an important role in his writing," said Adrea Jaehnig, director of the LGBT Resource Center. "His message invites all of us to consider a better world."
From the tale of a child called Shehe, who is both male and female and dreams of tamarins, mangoes and a world free of capitalist oppression, to the essay relating Abu Ghraib to lynching in America, Glave's message is profoundly simple and earnest.
"There is a lack of human connection needed to look beyond labels," Glave said. He referred to an article in the gay issues magazine, Out, and criticized the question posed, "Is the War in Iraq an LGBT issue?"
"What that question says to me is that there are certain things that aren't LGBT issues, such as foreign policy, immigration and welfare reform," Glave said. "Immigration has a direct effect on my family."
A frequent guest at Syracuse University, Glave was a panelist for the regional LGBT conference last fall and spoke for the African-American studies department.
