LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014, tu es arrivée ...

The new year began with me sleeping until nearly noon.

Then off to the New Orleans gumbo and jumbalaya party uptown, where almost all the guests work with history and / or writing in some form or another, and / or music or other media such films, animation and so on in some way. The guests were as much a variety as the food.  Party made to order for the likes of us, if you ask me.


At one point Our Hostess asked el V to describe our book.  He began with the title: The American Slave Coast: A History of the Slave-breeding Industry.  And from then on everyone present in that part of the apartment hung on every word, and more and more people came from other parts to listen too.  Then all kinds of questions.  People -- and particularly the African Americans -- got out pen and notebooks to write down the title, authors, publisher and pub date.



People seem to want to know this material, are very interested in it..  Which is a very encouraging sign, since this happens everywhere we talk about the book.  But then, we're usually in a situation with people like this, so, who knows?


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