I am vaguely acquainted with the work of Harris Wittels, a comedic genius who died of a heroin overdose in 2015. I dabbled in a bit of Parks and Recreation, and I’ve heard (of the) term ‘humblebrag‘, which he coined. Some of my favorite off-colour and silly jokes from TV shows and general pop culture… Read More Horrible, Wonderful Things: Notes on Bereavement
Parents of black children do not have it easy. The world is an ugly place, but it saves its most brutal faces for black people. But even before all that, before our children learn of the violence, both casual and profound, that lies in their path, there are the awful silences. Children’s stories, in print,… Read More On the beauty of black story(tellers)
Whilst I was watching a particularly harrowing sequence in the new HBO-produced movie The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (based on Rebecca Skloot’s bestselling book), I was reminded of a bit that Chris Rock used to include in his stand-up about race. He would argue that the most ‘racist’ black people he knew were older black people,… Read More The Immortal Lessons of Henrietta Lacks
In anticipation of the forthcoming Hulu dramatization, I reread Margaret Atwood’s iconic dystopian, feminist text, The Handmaid’s Tale. Well, only sort of. I have a lot less time and a lot more toddler in my life than I did when I first read the book twelve years ago. This time, I listened to the unabridged audiobook.… Read More Nolite te bastardes carborondurum: A Maternal Reading of The Handmaid’s Tale
“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” Joan Didion “Writers are always selling someone out.” Joan Didion David Sedaris published the most beautiful essay on the death of his youngest sister, Tiffany, and how her… Read More Our writing, our selves: Meditations on the ethics of writing
I came to The Help*, the book, late. Long after the movie was released, and discussed ad nauseum, and had its Oscar glory, I have finally found it in myself to read the book. I bought the book a solid year ago, from an airport bookstore. I read a few chapters, stuck my boarding pass… Read More White Women’s Stories: A Late Review of The Help
September 15 still effing winter in Cape Town — Zakes Mda (@ZakesMda) September 15, 2013 Welcome to this edition of WWR, brought to you from a soggy, cold Cape Town. Are ya just sick of this winter? We know we are! Zakes Mda agrees! – Heard of the first ever woman to become a Maasai… Read More What we’re reading, 17 September 2013
WWR is slightly late this week, but better late than never! A few things keeping us engaged this week: – Check out this very cool blog that I’m a part of. Any other border crossers out there? – A Gloria Steinem comic book? Yes-please-thank you! – Elaine Salo schools us on the A to… Read More What we’re reading, 10 September 2013
Welcome to September! I hear it’s meant to be spring, or something, but the Cape Winter has suddenly become pretty bitter. So much for all that… More time to stay indoors, cuddled up under a blanket, trawling through the internet! Enjoy this week’s reading list: – Sophia Wallace wants you to know the truth about… Read More What we’re reading, 1 September 2013
UDF leaders (from left) Patrick Mosiua Lekota, Popo Molefe and Trevor Manuel Here are a few things we read and thought about this week: – The UDF was founded 30 years ago. A few reflections on the movement that changed South Africa: http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-08-22-the-udf-at-30-an-organisation-that-shook-apartheids-foundation/#.UhnAaGR5hXc – In the wake of the Marikana anniversary, Sisonke Msimang reminds us of another… Read More What we’re reading, 25 August 2013
Rumbi Writes 
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