LITR 4332: American Minority Literature

Student Poetry Presentation 2007

Monday, 29 January: Safiya Henderson-Holmes, “Failure of an Invention” UA 60

Reader: A’Tousha Ricks

 

Safiya Henderson HolmesFAILURE OF AN INVENTION

BY: SAFIYA HENDERSON-HOLMES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE POET: Decorated poet; Awarded for her initial poetic work Madness and a Bit of Hope; Terry McMillan’s wrote about her in Breaking Ice; Featured productions; Education- B.A. New York University in Physiotherapy, MFA in Creative Writing from City College of New York; Taught Creative Writing at Syracuse University as a tenured Associate Professor.

© www.rootwork.com

 

THE POEM:  READING BY: A’TOUSHA RICKS

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND INTERPRETATIONS:  

  1. (5e)  “…human languages make[s] poetry…”
  • Safiya disassociates herself from the “normal” American subject by stating that she is “not any of the faces/ you have put on me america” (60).  At the start, her introduction makes known that she is the “other” subject, one that is not clearly defined nor understood.  She considers her “me” versus “you” battle from the very beginning.

 

  • In addition, by failing to implement proper capitalization, she turns away from conventional English.  She creates her own language.  Compared to the dominant language, Safiya’s invented speech better conveys her voice.

 

2.  (1d) “…extremely sensitive subject of skin color…”

  • She identifies the problematic in dark skin, “…this dark skin, both of us/ have tried to bleach” (60).  These lines are very telling because they suggest internal and external hatred.  In an attempt to assimilate, she tried to lighten her skin tone. Likewise, the dominant culture attempted to whiten her skin.  Both parties desired to destroy her darkness.    

 

QUESTIONS:

1.  Do you think the author’s attempt to bleach her skin was propelled by self-confusion? 

2.  Consider the last three lines.  What is the author’s tone and attitude towards “america” (60)?

Is it resentful or sorrowful?  Is it both or neither?    

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Gillan, Maria, and Jennifer Gillan. Eds. Unsettling America: An Anthology of Contemporary Multicultural Poetry. New York: Penguin, 1994.      

“INFO: safiya henderson-holmes obituary.” http://lists.topica.com/lists. Ed. 22 January 2007.  < http://lists.topica.com/lists/e-drum/read/message.html?mid=1602488503&sort=d&start=1474>.  

“Safiya Henderson-Holmes.” www.rootwork.com  Ed. 22 January 2007. <http://rootwork.com>.