It’s good to be home! I am back from three full days in Ohio, where I gave two talks. On top of that, I visited Linda Krumholz’s Harlem Renaissance class this morning. I went in tired and distracted, preoccupied with the travel ahead of me. The students were so gracious and thoughtful, so kind. They were a special group and asked me the most interesting questions about my work than I have ever been asked. “Now I’m worried I’m going to forget to leave,” I joked. I saw a white male student look at the clock when I said that; it was empathetic concern, I had no doubt.
When it was time for me to go, another male student escorted me to my car, per Linda’s request.
“I’ve never escorted anyone before,” he joked. “Maybe you should take my arm.” We laughed.
“Do you have a jacket to throw over puddles so I won’t muss my dress slippers?” I teased.
We talked about his ambivalent fondness for Chick-fil-A (he identified himself as bisexual). I shared my secret shame over re-watching the first two seasons of “House of Cards.” He wants to be a writer. How? he asked.
“Sit your butt in the seat and move your hand across the page,” I told him. “That’s all I know.”
College students: they make me laugh, keep me fresh, and give me hope. That’s why I teach.
