I want to talk a little bit about writing this piece, because if you're familiar w my writing history you'd know that writing & pubbing it was not straightforward for me. Several years ago I had to email all the venues that had my work up to ask them to take it all offline.https://twitter.com/djed_press/status/1277099125507383296 …
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This was due to some v real threats & safety concerns involving my family. My writing v what could happen to them/us? Easy choice. This piece in
@djed_press is the first piece of writing I've published under my name since. It's not because the threats have abated (LOL
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It's because it was vital that I visibly stand behind my words. That I put a face to them. I weighed the risks, decided I could deal w the fallout. Then I contacted Djed (who were amazing!!!) & started writing. I wrote the piece in one sitting. I was angry. I was on fire.
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Why am I willing to risk putting a face to this piece given everything? Because one of the terrible things that Verity La and Stuart Cooke did was take away our faces & our voices. Deny us ownership of our stories. Pretend, in the end, that we didn't exist. Well. Here I am.
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I am not well-known (w/c probs means Verity La won't listen to me, lol). But here I add my name to the voices speaking out re this piece. Contend w me & my lived experience. Or not. But I refuse to let you go on as though this were an academic q of "art". I am proof it isn't.
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It's SO FUCKING messed up that ppl have to do this.
@eunice_andrada@snarkattack@eileenchongpoet & others put our hearts on the line JUST TO CALL THIS OUT & were dismissed, our concerns not deemed enough. Ask yourself this: what is enough? Why does this have to keep happening?1 reply 1 retweet 43 likesShow this thread -
I've put a lot on the line (& look, if the threats start up again, bec the situ at home is terrifying & volatile, that piece may need to go, so... screenshot it). I know what I'm willing to give to help enact change. Do you? What are you willing to do to make things better?
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If you've read the piece & shared it I thank you. And I hope that we can continue to ACT so that things like this don't keep happening. So that the systems change. So that marginalised groups can tell OUR stories in OUR voices instead of our lives being exploited for white gain.
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Also, shoutout to
@djed_press for doing vital work & being awesome to work with. And giving me space to speak my words without hindrance or fetter. Thanks for trusting me even though you hardly knew my work.2 replies 2 retweets 46 likesShow this thread
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