Belonging and Alterity: Writing Race, Culture & Identity

This seminar is intended to highlight Writers of Color and encourage directly writing about race, culture and identity (intersectionally, including gender, sexual orientation, ability, nationality, etc) during these times. We'll watch and read short works together by BIPOC writers, do writing exercises and have space to share about being writers of various groups who may not commonly see ourselves in the dominant narrative and mainstream spaces.

This is a place to feel and carve out belonging while also discussing the benefits of experiences that give us "alterity" or outsider-status, which can be a source of cultural capital and strength, individually and collectively, and as creative people. Readings include poetry by Kevin Yang, Suheir Hammad, Danez Smith, Regie Cabico, Michelle Peñaloza, Barbara Jane Reyes, Audre Lorde, Luis Rodríguez, Gloria Anzaldua and more.

Also please feel free to check out this article that Aimee wrote about teaching this course here! 

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.