An ongoing illustrative history study
This piece originally posted 6/25/2024
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"It's as if we think liberation a fixed quantity, that there is only so much to go around. That an individual or community is liberated at the expense of another. When we view liberation as a scarce resource, something only a precious few of us can have, we stifle our potential, our creativity, our genius for living, learning and growing."
As Pride Month 2024 winds down, I wanted to briefly share with you the fascinating life and observations of Andrea R (Ruth) Canaan; writer, poet, social worker, and activist. Born in 1950 New Orleans, Canaan was raised in deeply spiritual traditions but nevertheless offers some uncompromising and unblinking critiques on race relations, womens' rights, same sex relationships, and free speech.
Another recurrent theme in her writing is clergy misconduct, unchallenged sexual abuse, and misuse of religious power --a subject which sadly hits particularly close to home, for her. Canaan channels her creativity into a philosophy of personal wholeness; hosting workshops and wellness consultations for other writers. Canaan holds an MSW and multiple MFAs; she has raised three daughters (and now enjoys three granddaughters), and lives in California with her spouse Joann.
Okay, enough of my meager rambling --I'm really not doing my subject any justice here. Let Andrea engage you herself, with her own words. Or browse her thought-provoking writing prompts and see where they take you.
For further study: 1981's This Bridge Called my Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color; an anthology published by State University of New York Press, to which Canaan has contributed select essays and chapters. A memoir, The Saltbox House on Bayou Black, is forthcoming.
Next page - Lesson 156: Peter Salem