I've Moved!

From Boston/Cambridge, to the Philippines, to New York and to Wordpress! You can find Ms. Fu-Daddy at Malaya.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

I was finally able to read Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. It was fantastic -so fantastic it sometimes made my chest hurt. Arnold "Junior" Spirit tells the sometimes poignant, often funny, most times painful story of his journey through high school as a "Part Time Indian." He lives on the rez but decides to go to school in a nearby all white town -at times he finds himself to be too "Indian" and other times too white.

While some brown folks look back into their childhood, trying to identify specific moments where their double consciousness was most palpable. Junior brings us through his double consciousness, flipping open and shut the veil of his identity(ies), showing us that it's everyday. He reminds us how much it matters and how much it doesn't while highlighting life on the rez with his astute observations.

This is a definite must read for brown people of all ages.

Diwata by Barbara Jane Reyes

Next on my list of poetry to read is Diwata by Barbara Jane Reyes. If this portion of a poem is any indication of what the rest of the book is like, I'm finished!

"She was born with fins and fishtail,

A quick blade slicing water.

She was her father's mermaid child.

A river demon, elders said.

...She lit oak pyers and bade the wind

A whispered requiem."

-Barbara Jane Reyes

On Teaching Writing

"Writing is a craft before it is an art; writing may appear magic, but it is our responsibility to take our students backstage to watch the pigeons being tucked up in the magician's sleeve." -Donald Murray

Riot in the Sky and Surplus Dropped!

My sister Sahra has done it again. After a short hiatus from the blogosphere Riot in the Sky is back online and better than ever. I didn't think it could look any better, but it does! I could say the same for Sahra girl as well! :) My friends are too fly for their own good!!

Sahra also dropped her new epic poem Surplus on the website as well. Download it asap. You need to read her genius! I had the pleasure of reading it before its release and was moved by its imagery, honesty, and its call to truth and action.

Sahra always says, "No homie bias," but I have some straight up, forreal homie bias because my friends are DOPE!!

Commas, Late Mornin', and Favela Gyal

This entry contains three completely different points of topic.

1. I use way too many commas in my writing. I've had a feeling that's the way I was, but as I read and re-read my writing I'm like, "Really Biba? All those commas?"

2. Late Mornin' by Q-Tip -mmmmm, feels good.

3. Favela Gyal by 7 Samurai feat. McCoppa is a PRRRRROOOBBLEEM.

Freedom in Flight

I do my best thinking and writing when I am literally travelling –on the bus, on a plane, or on a train. I am confined by space, but at the same time I am free to roam the innermost depths of my mind, free from the distractions of tasks, the internet, my phone, or even conversation with friends and family. While I fly over mountains, fields, rivers, and seas; ride tracks, or drive over miles of road, my thoughts travel to places that are difficult to access when I am standing still.

Here’s to the movement.

Teaching Remix

A friend of a friend runs a blog called "Imaginary Boundaries" and posted an excellent entry about plagiarism called Teaching Remix.

Plagiarism is a big discussion at our school and we teachers always wonder what the best tools for teaching writing are, because of course, we want our students to be able to have power over their words and we don't want them to plagiarize, so how do we teach that well in today's society? Thought this was a nice thought on the issue.