WEBVTT

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Next one comes from, again,
a composite of two students

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that I had at Sarah Lawrence.

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And the title comes
from a conference

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that came with those
at AWP in Philadelphia,

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maybe three years ago.

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And the panel's theme was,
why do so few Blacks study

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creative writing?

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"Why Do So Few Blacks
Study Creative Writing?"

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"Always the same, sweet
hurt, the understanding

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that settles in the eyes.

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Sooner or later, at
the end of class,

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in the silence
cooling in the room.

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Sooner or later,
it comes to this--

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[AUDIO CUTS OUT] a
glossary, a disclaimer.

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It was as if I were what?

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Talking for the first time?

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Giving yourself up?

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Away.

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There are worlds and there
are worlds to remind you,

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she needs to know
what's wrong with me.

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And you want the crowbar or
spade her hurt to the air.

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You want photosynthesis,
to break it down

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to an organic language.

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You want to shake, I hear you.

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Into her ear, armor her
life with permission.

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Really, what can I say?

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That if she chooses
to remain here,

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the term neighborhood will
always have a foreign stress.

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That there will
always be the moment

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the small hard
details of your life

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will be made to
circle their wagons."