Tayari's Blog: Sweet Pearl Cleage
Posted by TayariJones on March 29, 2005 08:41 PM
Filed under
The Writing Life
Pearl was my very first mentor. I met her when I was about 17 years old, having just figured out which was the business end of a ball-point. This was almost twenty years ago, before Oprah came a-calling. Before she was PEARL CLEAGE. When she was just Pearl, the only teacher at Spelman who let us call her by her first name.
Back then, I was too young to drink, didn't have a drivers licence yet, and hadn't quite decided what kind of person I wanted to be. I knew I wanted to be a writer, after all, I was a reader and I liked the way I felt when I pressed my pen to the page.
The Creative Writing class was jam-packed with eager young women. It wasn't a workshop set up, like the classes I now teach. This was some cross between a 70's style consciousness raising and something I don't quite have a name for. Pearl made it her job to convince us that we each had something to say.
I can't really comment on the effectiveness of her pedagogy in any kind of scientific sense. I don't know what was going on in the heads of my classmates, but I know what was happening to me, in my head and my heart. I wanted to be just like her.
That semester, I wrote a story called "Eugenics" of which I was pretty proud. Now, looking back, I can see myself making many of the same mistakes my own students make, but at the moment, I felt I had written the perfect tale, a combination of gripping story and political commentary. I presented it to Pearl the way that you give people things when you want them to love it and (maybe)love you.
Pearl published that story in a magazine she ran called Catalyst. My very first publication. The year was 1990. I was almost twenty and the hundred dollars she paid me was the best money I ever made.
It would be another decade before I published Leaving Atlanta. I took a lot of wrong turns, did some stupid things, and wasted a lot of time. But through it all, there was Pearl, giving me advice, cheering me on, reminding me to do my best to do the right thing.
This spring, Pearl and I will be on book tour simultaneously. (Her newest novel, Babylon Sisters, has just been released.) We looked at our calendars and decided to rendezvous in DC. "Let's get together," she said. "It'll be a good time."
"Okay," I agreed. "You are good for my soul."
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There are 11 comments on "Sweet Pearl Cleage". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Judy Dozier
Pearl Cleage is indeed "good for the soul." I've never met her, but she published my first poem in Catalyst -- and paid me $50. She saw what I saw in that poem, and the shadow of her embrace falls gently over all of the submissions I've made to anywhere since then. Peace, love, and blessings to our Pearl!
March 31, 2005 10:51 AM
Comment #2, by Chesya Burke
I was pleased to met Pearl Cleage in Atlanta at a book event a few months ago. She is a wonderful speaker. She inspires us all.
Chesya
April 15, 2005 12:50 PM
Comment #3, by Mack Henry
You and Pearl make the world a merrier place and testify to the power of concentrating.
April 15, 2005 08:06 PM
Comment #4, by MLHilton
Hello:
I have been a "huge" fan of Pearl Cleage since I read "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day," before the title made it to the O. Winfrey show.
Finally, last year I got a chance to hear her speak at The National Book Club Conference in Atlanta is was truly an treat to just listen how she goes through her "own creative process."
I just started reading "Babylon Sisters" just can't seem to put it down, especially since the story is set in one of my favorite cities Atlanta.
I have no shame in my game recommending folks to read books by Pearl Cleage they will not be disappointed.
Peace,
MLHilton
April 19, 2005 08:12 PM
Comment #5, by Regina Garrett
Hello Ms. Tayari,
I can understand why you speak so highly of Pearl. She is an awesome writer. I am a member of the BLACK BUTTERFLY BOOK CLUB and we are reading her new book, Babylon Sisters this month. I just finished the book last night and I enjoyed every last minute of it. I need a favor. I was trying to find her website and was unsuccessful. I was wondering if you would be able to forward this email to her. We are having our book club meeting on Saturday, May 21, 2:00 at Paschals. One of my club members did not believe that I would be bold enough to email Mrs. Cleage and invite her to our meeting or just to have lunch with us. I figured that she could only tell me "no". My daddy always told me that you never know until you ask. So, I'm asking you for your help and her for a little of her time. Please help.
Thanking you in advance for your prompt attention of this matter. Looking forward to hearing from you one way or the other.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina Garrett
May 9, 2005 01:02 PM
Comment #6, by Jeanne Cable
I'm trying to obtain a copy of Pearl Cleage's
poem "WE SPEAK YOUR NAME"
Thank you for your time.
May 23, 2005 08:47 AM
Comment #7, by Herlonda Marshall
I too am searching for the poem, "We Speak Your Name".
May 23, 2005 02:23 PM
Comment #8, by Bj
I have been looking everywhere for the poem, "We Speak Your Name". Can you help me? Where my I purchase or find this poem?
May 24, 2005 05:34 PM
Comment #9, by tayari
Hi everyone,
I have let Pearl know that so many people want a copy of her poem, WE SPEAK YOUR NAME. I'll let you know if she will release a copy to us.
May 25, 2005 05:43 PM
Comment #10, by teri
I too began a manic search for this powerful poem after only hearing a very small portion on the Oprah show. Thank you Tayari for informing Pearl that her words touched so many souls. I hope she will share them.
May 26, 2005 12:34 PM
Comment #11, by Robin Frazer Clark
Any luck yet on getting a copy of the poem "We Speak Your Name?
September 24, 2005 07:38 AM