10/20/2017 As I read the poetry and short stories of Latin American Women writers, a voice inside my head said, “Just say you are Latin American”.  As I contemplated this it occurred to me that my parents don’t speak latin (or Spanish), and we speak English.  I was born in Illinois.  I have ancestors from many tribes.  I was born on what was formerly Sauk land.  So were my parents.  The Native Americans died.  My dad eats corn tamales. As I read these women’s stories I realized that I never thought white was any more synonymous with purity than black.  If I can not claim a sort of unity with…

9/22/2015   I was making my way down the slightly snow covered sidewalk when I started to think about the Jazz Showcase.  I had been here years ago looking for a job as a cocktail waitress on the day that Quinten Marsalis happened to be there.  I didn’t interview well.  I was too busy staring at all of the photographs on the wall and the stage.  I didn’t maintain eye contact.  Oh well, that was an awesome spot.  I am going to have to come and see a show one day.  As I made my way down the street toward the club I knew I was gonna need some coffee…

By Joy Lynn Clark 12/11/2017 Charlie Parker’s music is the soundtrack to my life; familiar and always playing in the background.  The memories run through my mind like scenes from a movie.  As I listened to, “Jazz Round Midnight”, and considered the history, these are my impressions. I was listening to Embraceable You when I started to do a search online.  My first hit was an article about a lost baby, a bottle, and a promise to come home.  Was he just trying to sleep?  I lost my connection right when I got to the part about the sculpture of a head.  Then I skimmed another review about Charlie Parker from a black…

This next paper was a response to Catalina De Erauso’s The Lieutenant Nun.  The main character runs away from the convent, dresses in drag, and has a fantastic life as a man.  This was my response. Lieutenant Nun: Freedom Through Violence? In my opinion, Catalina De Erauso’s adventurous tale of the transvestite nun is fascinating.  Her story exposes how a woman views man’s social standing through freedom and access.  Even an unknown man has the freedom to gamble, make money, and receive an education if he chooses.  However, it soon becomes clear that this freedom is attained through violence. Soon after Erauso flees the convent she is offered a job…

By Joy Lynn Clark 11/20/2017 When reading about Sor (Sister) Juana Del La Cruz’s life it is clear that she was interested in scholarly work at an early age.  In addition, much of Sor Juana’s writing includes references to women in literature and history.  In my opinion, Sor Juana De La Cruz is one of the earliest scholars of Women’s studies in the New World. In, “La Respuesta”, Sor Juana mentions that she wants education through, ” . . . Letters and private study.”  I believe that Sor Juana’s primary interest was to work as an academic which, she could only achieve as a nun.  In the era of New Spain, the only alternative to…