Tayari's Blog: Report From The Road: Poughkeepsie, NY

I am not quite sure where to start. It's been such a cool visit. I gueses I can start with the weather. Anticpating sub-zero temperatures, I brought my super-duper down coat, the one guaranteed for up to 20 below. But guess what, the temperature in Poukeepsie was a balmy 35.

But seriously, there is something special brewing here at Vassar.

The students read selected passages from novels by Toni Morrison, Gayl Jones, Veronica Chambers, and Zora Neal Hurston. I didn't have a program, so it was like literary name-that-tune as I listen to the words of my favorite authors. I loved the honesty with which the students approached the texts. (You should have heard Carrie read from Corrigeadora, the straight face with which she read the difficult passages which were laced with profanity-- and with pain.) The students who read orginal work spoke candidly about biracial identity, religious tolerance, neighborhood bake-offs, and National Fuck-You Day. I was thrilled to be part of this line up. The readings from the masters reminded us of the splendor of our tradition and the chirpings of the young folk promised us that the best is yet to come.

After the show was a terrific dinner. To make me feel at home, Professor Dunbar requested that the caterers serve southern cuisine. (I was all over the bread pudding.) But what really triggered the memories was the peformance by the campus group, Stepology, which took me all the way back to the first step show I ever saw at Spelman College.

It's late, after midnight, and my flight is out at 7am. I just wanted to post before I go to bed. I don't know if the Vassar students are the types to stay up late reading blogs, but if there are any, I'd like to say thanks and good night.