blackgirl on mars: notes on a life in copenhagen (or how my alienation brings me closer to people).

Karina & Mr. Clint  future pharmacist and engineer One of the many things I have done during my life here in Denmark was work as a teacher at Copenhagen Euro School. It's a school in Vesterbro - and when I first walked into that school about 11 years ago - I fell in love with it. It didn't matter that the school was small, or that the building looked like it was about to fall to the ground. No. What mattered were the kids - a lively bunch of diversity and love and challenges. I had always wanted to teach there and was delighted when some years later, on the recommendation of a teacher there, I was headhunted to teach Middle School English. I taught English to 5th, 6th and 7th graders - and it was not only one of the most challenging jobs I have ever had - but the most rewarding. I left teaching a couple of years ago, about the same time that the leader of the school at the time, Robert Barrett decided to end his 16 year tenure there. Rob is originally from Canada ...

No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear | The Nation "We may also delude ourselves into thinking that our efforts to “civilize” or “pacify” other countries are not about money. Slavery was always about money: free labor producing money for owners and industries." 

Dear World. This is a picture of a Smart Dane: He makes fashion. Music. Installation. He doesn't believe in bullying other people.  You can read more about him in an upcoming interview.  He makes art like this: His name is Henrik Vibskov. But this Guy.  He's a member of Parliament. His name is Thomas Danielsen. He receives my tax kroner.  And he makes posters like this:  Thomas Danielsen is a GREAT example of a DUMB DANE.  The poster reads: "If you Come to Denmark, you have to use your education". Now, not all Danes are dumb. But I trust you will now be able to recognize the difference.  This concludes our lesson on Smart Dane, Dumb Dane for today.  farvel,  the lab

my old block when i first moved to Vesterbro... I'm loving being back in Vesterbro - a vibrant, diverse neighborhood that is more of a match for where I am in life right now. It's quite inspiring and reminds me of the big city vibe that a small city like Copenhagen can sometimes have.  I live right off of Istedgade - close to the Central Station. I usually refer to Istedgade as the crack of Copenhagen's ass - you'll find all kinds of illicit goings-on here - from prostitutes to drug users to the johns of course. But that is not all this part of Copenhagen has to offer. Luckily for me there are no shortage of greengrocers who have okra, cassava, plantain and scotch bonnet peppers for sale. This is all in the midst of a bustling street that includes young parents, hipsters and students.  Vesterbro has changed much since I lived here some years ago - but perhaps it's because it's the same neighborhood I first moved to when I first got here that I feel the c...

what a view!  the artist/writer with a more serious piece 1. My friend Glen. His artwork, like his friendship, is always full of laughs, keen insights on life and reminders to not take things too seriously... Amalie told me her grandmother had often told her she had never met anyone quite as exquisite as Ms. Baker, ever.  2. Hanging out with my friend Amalie - and seeing this beautiful sketch of Josephine Baker, learning that her grandfather - a cartoonist for a major newspaper here at the time- made this drawing of Josephine Baker - whom he also shared a friendship with.  I love this picture of me. Sassy!  3. Hanging out with Mathilda - the 6 year-old artist of this drawing of me, which welcomes me to my new home! Moving back to Vesterbro and in with Bente - an old friend who I first met in New York City 16 years ago has been amazing!  Hanging out backstage at Danni Toma's show at Rust!  3. Going to a D'Angelo ...

The reeducation of Lesley-Ann Brown - News - Murmur

when  bandit queen press  was initially announced, I was hyped. the presence and a determination that vibrate through the press’ mission are what movements are made of. history-making begins with ideas like these, as grassroots that become the foundations beneath our feet.

 lesley-ann brown commands attention from the beginning lines, revealing the connection between a daughter and iconic father. he who seemed to exude strength was now forced to be vulnerable, and she once forced to skip vulnerability when too tender to be strong was now faced with the need for honest assessment, and reasoned forgiveness at an impossible time. 


 the organist’s daughter  is the honest and lush journal of an island girl who cuts away delusion with a sharp reasoned knife, bearing no malice toward the human experience’s ache, or the delayed journey answers make to the heart long after the questions have been asked. 
it is the memoir of a conscious heart, kindly extending its embra...