By Joyce Woodard
This week’s discussion of Nella Larsen’s Passing (1929) in my Harlem Renaissance: Topics of African American Literature class, taught by Professor Angel Dye, showed me how much the experience of reading depends on who is in the room.
We began reading Passing and discussed the first two parts of the book as a class, and it was one of the liveliest book discussions I have ever been part of. There aren’t many people in this class, and most of the students are Black women, which I believe contributed to the strength of the conversation.
Given the book’s plot, the discussion focused heavily on how unbelievable or silly we found certain parts, and I left class with both new perspectives and a deeper appreciation for how Black readers discuss books. Black readers are able to analyze texts seriously and thoughtfully while still keeping conversations engaging and dynamic. The class felt short because the discussion was so immersive, allowing us to share different interpretations of the characters’ interactions without the conversation becoming boring.
In other classes I have taken, book discussions were never nearly as interesting as this one. As I grow as a reader, I am learning that the experience of reading and discussing is shaped significantly by the people I am engaging with about reading.
In other classes I have taken, book discussions were never nearly as interesting as this one. As I grow as a reader, I am learning that the experience of reading and discussing is shaped significantly by the people I am engaging with about reading.
Related:
No comments:
Post a Comment