Thank you, Laura. I've always responded to the sheer joy in Wheatley's poetry. My favorite is "Thoughts On the Works of Providence," which ends with Reason and Love embracing. Also love the image in that poem of Phoebus making Creation smile at sunrise. I often think of that on days when I feel less joyful, that every sunrise is Nature grinning and inviting me to do the same.
Thanks so much for reading, Joshua. I love that apropos point about one of her lesser-known, lesser-discussed pieces - and you're so right that it's infused with that spirit of joyousness that students can often struggle to see as they focus or fixate on some of their pre-determined narratives or criteria about the works of an enslaved poet. Perhaps I ought to teach that one in the future also... I really enjoyed your post on Wheatley recently as well!
Ah, thanks. I didn't want to "link bomb" your post, but it means a lot to know that my tribute to Wheatley landed well with you. If you ever teach "Thoughts on the Works of Providence," I'd love to hear how it goes!
Laura: You convey the energy and solidarity and hope of the Wheatley festival beautifully. Thank you for sharing the image of so many powerful women gathering to speak of joy. I am eager to check out these books!
Thank you so much, Tara! Words can only capture a fraction of the intensity, the radicality, and the sheer joy of that original 1973 event (based on what I've read, researched, and been told!) - and I felt the same way having been lucky enough to attend the 2023 re-convening. I'd love to hear what you think of Jeffers's and Shockley's works; they're 2 of my favorite living authors, and both so thoughtfully engage with how 'radical joy' and efforts to improve our vastly imperfect world are essential co-constituting components of the same aesthetic and political project.
Thank you, Laura. I've always responded to the sheer joy in Wheatley's poetry. My favorite is "Thoughts On the Works of Providence," which ends with Reason and Love embracing. Also love the image in that poem of Phoebus making Creation smile at sunrise. I often think of that on days when I feel less joyful, that every sunrise is Nature grinning and inviting me to do the same.
Thanks so much for reading, Joshua. I love that apropos point about one of her lesser-known, lesser-discussed pieces - and you're so right that it's infused with that spirit of joyousness that students can often struggle to see as they focus or fixate on some of their pre-determined narratives or criteria about the works of an enslaved poet. Perhaps I ought to teach that one in the future also... I really enjoyed your post on Wheatley recently as well!
Ah, thanks. I didn't want to "link bomb" your post, but it means a lot to know that my tribute to Wheatley landed well with you. If you ever teach "Thoughts on the Works of Providence," I'd love to hear how it goes!
Laura: You convey the energy and solidarity and hope of the Wheatley festival beautifully. Thank you for sharing the image of so many powerful women gathering to speak of joy. I am eager to check out these books!
Thank you so much, Tara! Words can only capture a fraction of the intensity, the radicality, and the sheer joy of that original 1973 event (based on what I've read, researched, and been told!) - and I felt the same way having been lucky enough to attend the 2023 re-convening. I'd love to hear what you think of Jeffers's and Shockley's works; they're 2 of my favorite living authors, and both so thoughtfully engage with how 'radical joy' and efforts to improve our vastly imperfect world are essential co-constituting components of the same aesthetic and political project.