Comments on: “WHITE GIRL, BLACK HEART: SUMMER ‘59,” a short story-poem by Arletta Dawdy tells of coming of age, reaching and rocking across cultures http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/ Creating connections through the arts and across cultures Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:30:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Larken http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-452 Larken Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:19:21 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/#comment-452 Wonderful. I'm contemplating what career path Annie may have taken after graduating from college . . . . Social work, perhaps? I look forward to reading more of Arletta's work. Wonderful. I'm contemplating what career path Annie may have taken after graduating from college . . . . Social work, perhaps? I look forward to reading more of Arletta's work.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-361 Shannon Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:27:42 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/#comment-361 Reminds me of how many people experience New Orleans should they venture out of the French Quarter, but not stay long enough to call it home. Wish faith was enough to erase racism. Reminds me of how many people experience New Orleans should they venture out of the French Quarter, but not stay long enough to call it home. Wish faith was enough to erase racism.

]]> By: Kim http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-360 Kim Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:10:00 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/#comment-360 I loved it. I know how its feels to be on the outside. It was like that for me with my ex-hubbys family. I loved it. I know how its feels to be on the outside. It was like that for me with my ex-hubbys family.

]]> By: Ineta Karttunen http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-353 Ineta Karttunen Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:18:52 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/#comment-353 I believe we have all been an outsider at one time or another whether from race or some other way. Your poem showed there is always a common ground for all people if we only look for it. I believe we have all been an outsider at one time or another whether from race or some other way. Your poem showed there is always a common ground for all people if we only look for it.

]]> By: Sam Barone http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Sam Barone Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:57:36 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/#comment-349 Arletta, what a wonderful poem. I know the feeling of being an 'outsider' white person in a company of Black people. Uneasiness runs both ways, as always. Arletta, what a wonderful poem. I know the feeling of being an 'outsider' white person in a company of Black people. Uneasiness runs both ways, as always.

]]> By: Arletta http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Arletta Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:38:31 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/#comment-348 Thank you both for your comments. I love it when our writing triggers responses or memories in others. Edwin, I don't place the song you mention, can you tell us more? And Charon, Annie L is just down the road (well, 45 miles or so) and I've met her several times at writer events; she still has her dreadlocks and her marvelous humor. Thank you both for your comments. I love it when our writing triggers responses or memories in others. Edwin, I don't place the song you mention, can you tell us more? And Charon, Annie L is just down the road (well, 45 miles or so) and I've met her several times at writer events; she still has her dreadlocks and her marvelous humor.

]]> By: Charon http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-344 Charon Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:38:45 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/#comment-344 Anne Lamott, in her book "Operating Instructions" writes extensively about her experiences as a single mom at her small mostly-black church during her pregnancy and the subsequent birth of her son. The pictures she paints of these wonderful, generous people are brilliant and the stories she shares are of the type everyone hopes to experience but few do in their lifetimes. In "Traveling Mercies" she also has an astonishing piece about having her hair started in dreadlocks, detailing all the race issues and ritual involved. It is a very moving piece. Anne Lamott, in her book "Operating Instructions" writes extensively about her experiences as a single mom at her small mostly-black church during her pregnancy and the subsequent birth of her son. The pictures she paints of these wonderful, generous people are brilliant and the stories she shares are of the type everyone hopes to experience but few do in their lifetimes. In "Traveling Mercies" she also has an astonishing piece about having her hair started in dreadlocks, detailing all the race issues and ritual involved. It is a very moving piece.

]]> By: Erwin A. Thompson http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Erwin A. Thompson Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:46:07 +0000 http://www.riehlife.com/2007/06/25/white-girl-black-heart-summer-%e2%80%9859-a-short-story-poem-by-arletta-dawdy-tells-of-coming-of-age-reaching-and-rocking-across-cultures/#comment-343 My wife, Ruth, was a teacher. The bus drivers were "part of the team," friends who spent considerble time and thought tomake things work. When Ollie died, we went to his funeral, no question. There were five white people in the congregation. (None of the executives of the school system.) We were welcomed, and it was plain that our presence was appreciated. The service was beautiful. I have been familiar with the song: "Farther Along" for seventy years, but never heard it sung more beautifully. My wife, Ruth, was a teacher. The bus drivers were "part of the team," friends who spent considerble time and thought tomake things work. When Ollie died, we went to his funeral, no question. There were five white people in the congregation. (None of the executives of the school system.)

We were welcomed, and it was plain that our presence was appreciated. The service was beautiful. I have been familiar with the song: "Farther Along" for seventy years, but never heard it sung more beautifully.

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