Louis M. Maraj - Black or Right: Anti/Racist Campus Rhetorics

Louis M. Maraj

U TAH S TATE U NIVERSITY P RESS

Logan

2020 by University Press of Colorado

Published by Utah State University Press

An imprint of University Press of Colorado

245 Century Circle, Suite 202

Louisville, Colorado 80027

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The University Press of Colorado is a proud member of Association of University Presses.

The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported, in part, by Adams State University, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming, Utah State University, and Western Colorado University.

ISBN: 978-1-64642-146-6 (paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-64642-147-3 (ebook)

https://doi.org/10.7330/9781646421473

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Maraj, Louis Maurice, author.

Title: Black or Right : Anti/Racist Campus Rhetorics / Louis M. Maraj.

Description: Logan : Utah State University Press, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020033429 (print) | LCCN 2020033430 (ebook) | ISBN 9781646421466 (paperback) | ISBN 9781646421473 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: BlacksRace identityUnited States. | RhetoricStudy and teaching. | Cultural pluralism. | Hashtags (Metadata) | Anti-racism. | Black lives matter movement. | United StatesRace relations21st century.

Classification: LCC E185.625 .M328 2020 (print) | LCC E185.625 (ebook) | DDC 305.800973dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020033429

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020033430

The University Press of Colorado gratefully acknowledges the support of the University of Pittsburgh toward the publication of this book.

Front cover: sculptures by Michelle Cohen; photograph by the author.

For my Mummy Carolin Gemma Maraj ah love yuh

For life, lens, and literacy, a million thanks to my dear mother, Carolin Maraj, who done arready know I have a plan and always believe in it, without a word saidforever my strength and my faith. To my father, fireman (Alfred) Freddie Maraj, thanks for de support and presence, eh. Leiselle Donald, my sister, my ride or die from small, an, of course, Reanaldo Donald, eternally grateful to both ah allyuh, for laughter, Atlanta holidays, memes, the official AT&T thread, etc. etc. etc. Shoutout to my sweet lil Goddaughter, Lara Khaleesi DonaldI hope someday yuh will read this, baby girl. Lermie (Lemuel Maraj), thanks eh bredda. He could tell a story forever! Big up to Stories from Staubles for showing me autoethnography. Sara (Ramroop), I hope yuh doin ahright and keeping your pumkin safe. Luanna (Budden), bravin de cold in de land of Eng, ah thinkin about allyuh, you and Shelby. Laverne (Maraj), keep good, yuh hear? To my nephews, Joey, Josh, Isaiah, please get educated: we need a next generation! It still have time. Please! Dayo, you too. Thank you to Granny (Rita Senhouse)rest in peaceand de aunts who help raise me, Tanty Mer (Merlyn Taitt), Tanty Ros (Roslyn De Labastide), and Mama (Jacqueline De Labastide)gone too soonand cant forget yuh, Uncle Calvin (De Labastide). Family is Family is Family!!! Cousins, de whole crew, allyuh done know: Jade and Joselle (De Labastide); The Fulchans: Anissa, Joey, and the chirren; Andre, Anson, Nadia (Taitt); Clint (De Labastide); Steve and Aneisha (Lashley); large up. Daddy family, representin too.

To my life partner, Alexis McGee, the light in my sky, the gold in my deep blue: I love you, sunshine! Every day together is a blessing.

Miss Sandy, my beautiful kitty, Cootz, you have taught me emotional maturity and how to take care of myself. To my grad school crew, you knew this book in infancy: Sean Kamperman, you my dude. To my Crispy Boy, Caitlyn Gam McLoughlin, much love. Pritha Prasad, keep prithing. To the rest of my A Team, Colleen Morrissey, Zach Harvat, and Drew Sweet, yuh large! Michelle Cohen, your art stays with me. Special mention to Indya Jackson, youre an inspiration.

Friends that have kept me on, thank you! You know I mean Norman Rasmussen III, definitely you, love you, brother. Thanks to your whole family, Krista, and the kids, for their years and years of hospitality. Dellison Charles and Jean Marc Tardieu, the original coatie crew, big up yourself. Cant forget Antonio Reyes and familyglad allyuh could make de weddinand I must give all my (QRC) boys in blue and blue a bligh.

To the teachers, I say: you have shaped me! Teacher Noreen, Mr. Murray, will never forget you. Rhona Bissram, Mr. Carter, Mrs. Bowen Forbes, Mr. Warner, Ms. Wendy McKenzie (who taught us what Haiti means!), Hinkie, Sio, Mr. Prince, and the educational space of Queens Royal College, Im grateful. Kathy Sunshine, you saved my life. Jackie Skrzynski, I learned so much from you about myself at our advisement center. To the poets who believed I had it, James Hoch in particular, thank you! The poems still coming knocking. Lara and Tim Crowley, I appreciate you both and your kindness is beyond words. Kathleen Griffincould not have gotten through grad school without you! Im beholden to Wendy S. Hesford for the guidance, Beverly J. Moss for being a rock, Margaret Price for letting me be vulnerable, and all three of you for thoughts on raising this project. Cristina Garca, I wont ever forget when you introduced me as one of your favorite poets out in the desert at that retreat. You are so kindhearted, generous, and caring. Juan Felipe Herrera, the voice keeps speaking. Carmen Kynard, bless up! Grateful to all others who have mentored me along this path in some way or shape, like Ersula Ore and Tamika Careythere are certainly moreand to my students, past and present; I continually learn from you.

My Pitt people, my gratitude to you. Talkin bout Peter Odell Campbell (for feedback, questions, solidarity), Khirsten L. Scott, Shaundra Myers, Yona Harvey, and yea, Imani Owens and Lauren Russell, yall still in this party. Was de scene, R. A. Judy?! Thank you for being you and for the direction on this project. To the Black grad students at Pittyou know who you areyou were a key part of my support system while getting this ting done. Also appreciative of colleagues like Ben Miller, Elizabeth Pitts, Jean Ferguson Carr, Stephen and Cassie Quigley, Annette Vee, and Corey Holding.

Special thanks to others whose comments, conversations, and kindness helped this monograph in some form, including (but not limited to) Andre N. Williams, Bob Baker at the Village Voice, Sara-Maria Sorentino, David Marshall, Christa Teston, Adela C. Licona, Tara Cyphers, Karma Chvez, and especially Rachael Levay, University Press of Colorado and Utah State University Press staff, and their anonymous readers of this manuscript. Shoutout to the whole DBLAC family network too!

I acknowledge the support of the Richard D. and Mary Jane Edwards Endowed Publication Fund, the University of Pittsburgh Department of English, Kristin Hopkins, Gayle Rogers, and Don Bialostosky for this publication.

An earlier version of , Im appreciative to Mike Bierschenk.

Blessings to de spaces, places, and phases I lived, labored, and loved: Pittsburgh, Mahwah, Sloatsburg, Lubbock (yea we still have beef, but yuh make meh think), Columbus, Indiayou are beautifuland of course, my home and heart, Trinidad and Tobago, where I wrote and revised major parts of