One of the clearest Black voices to ring in our ears may still be Maya Angelou's. Of the many wise sentiments she wrote, one is that while people may forget the exact phrases said, they will never forget the feelings the words evoked. She was a prolific writer, poet and speaker, and we who have exeperienced her words, remember very clearly how we felt when we read her.
What is so interesting is the connection between reading, emotions and memory. Cognitive scientists discovered a while ago now that our brains process the information we read from a creative narrative and a scholarly expository differently.
Annie Murphy Paul (2017) wrote about how this translates for readers, and it comes down to the fact that academic writing does not stimulate the brain the same way literature and fiction do. Descriptions of motion, texture, and odours are received not just by our language processing centre, but in the individual cortexes as if what we are reading is happening to us in the moment!
Think about this.
- When we read words describing stumbling and struggling through loose deep snow, the language centre sends an immediate message to our motor cortex, quickly like a swift kick, so we almost feel it.
- If the page details the intense scent from a patch of lavender in hot earth, our olfactory cortex lights up so that we think we smell it.
Reading stories rich with metaphors, simile and descriptive phrases arouses our brain as if our body is there, in the experience.
It's almost as if fiction offers us a simulated reality.
What could that mean when we hear voices tell different stories than the ones we have heard all our lives? Voices that speak in a particular way, using fresh expressions, comprised of new, interesting and unfamiliar experiences?
The same principles apply – our brain sets off the pinball machine that alerts all of our senses. This is not to say that reading another person's experience equates to a lived experience. It does not. But what it does mean is that reading of other experiences can affect us in visceral ways.
Empathy is feeling someone else's joy or pain in our own hearts for a moment.
Listening to another person is one of the most powerful ways to feel for that person and their story. It connects us to them, and when we feel, we're more likely to have understanding, respect, compassion. During February's Black History Month, let's plan to listen to the voices of Black authors and creators.
What does the library have for you?
An Orchestra of Minorities
A man falls in love with a woman jumping off a bridge. Yes, he saves her (not a spoiler) but it all goes south from here ...
You won’t won't need to understand the Nigerian Igboto, since this story is told by the man's chi. Yep. Be warned: this read is warm and witty, and brutal and graphic and pungent. I have not read a book like this before.
Which person brings us this story? Chigozie Obioma has astonished the literary world since he began to publish his writings and all the most important magazines and papers sing his praises. With good reason.
Butter Honey Pig Bread
It's about food. No, sex. No, flesh binding (google that). No, heartbreak. No, healing the heartbreak.It's fabric, movement, intimacy, reverberation and the still. Indulge yourself to see what it's about for you.
Who are we listening to? It is francesca ekwuyasi who speaks to us in the voices of many differing commuinities. Her background in acadamia and the arts, of mixed media and genres has won her accolades across Canada. She tells us more about herself on her website and it is worth the time to read.
Washington Black
What it's not: literal; set in the one location; dry.
What it is: odd, exquisitely told, nuanced portrayals, ripe with imagery and texture. Readers have opinions about the first half versus the second half of the book, and you need to read it to see which side you fall on. Then come catch me in the coffee lineup and tell me when you know ☺️
And whose voice is this from? Esi Edugyan is a generous artist. What she imagines and how she chooses to tell the reader of her tales is ingenious. Esi is a fascinating human being and you can find out more here:
Black Cake
A mother leaves a detailed plan of action as an inheritance, to be followed by estranged siblings.
You need to read this story (if you're reading from chilly Ontario). This book is warmth. And drama. You can taste the salt water, the family machinations and the casseroles and the cake through the pages. This will REALLY stimulate our cortexes.
Who tells this tale? Charmaine Wilkerson speaks, writes, and gives lectures all over North America. Her story is interesting, and her voice is as clear as bells. Read about her here:
For more featured reads, browse the Black Voices collection