Susan Says

Okay, so last week, Camile shows up. I shared with you that we met on a diversity forum. I wrote that she’ll be writing on politics, pop culture and world affairs. Well, she hasn’t even warmed her virtual behind in a seat here and she’s telling me there’s not enough of me, my personality at Color Online. Mind you, I’m the one known to be the bull in the china store and she’s telling me readers need to know more about me?

Well, okay, welcome to Susan Says, my attempt to let you know more about me. If you want to know more about me let’s start with why Color Online exists because frankly everything I do here is a microcosm of my politics and beliefs.

I am, was, and always will be a catalyst for change.
~Shirley Chisholm

Color Online exists so we can engage and inform one another. A friend of mine, Claudia said once that what we really crave is connection. I formed Color Online the real life group to show young women there is a connection between them and the world, that their lives matter and that their stories need to be told. Every opportunity I have, I try to illustrate how books and reading can transform their lives. My guy says I’m consumed with books. I am. I read and I act. If you’re wondering why Color Online aligns our primary focus of books with art and activism it is because for me, reading is political and art inspires. I act on what I believe.

Have you heard the adage, “The personal is political”? I’m about action, about connection. Damn what you’re sayin’, how you livin’? Books opened worlds to me. In them I heard my story and my voice and when heard my own voice, I found my power. Reading empowers us. Stay with me. There is a method to my madness. Not long ago, I responded to query asking readers what they read and why. Here’s my response:

I read mostly women’s literature, YA fiction (sub-genre realistic), multicultural literature and a fair amount of poetry. [At Color Online] our aim is to inform both members and visitors about writers they might not otherwise know. We hope our blog helps readers diversify their reading habits.

And where the words of women are crying to be heard, we must each of us recognize our responsibility to seek those words out, to read them and share them and examine them in their pertinence to our lives.
~Audre Lorde

I love women's literature because I favor the feminine voice. The issues addressed in women's literature matter a great deal to me: equality, self-awareness, empowerment, beauty, love, social commentary, justice and family. I love YA literature because it empowers, informs, entertains and inspires our young people, and supporting our youth is part of my life work.

I love multicultural literature because I have an insatiable appetite to connect with people. I am curious and I want to learn about the world around me. I promote and support women of color writers because it matters to me to celebrate writers who look like me, whose work mirrors my own aspirations, desires and experiences.

If you can empathize with what it means to be marginalized and invisible, then I think you can understand a desire to be heard. Literature has the power to make the universal, intimate and relevant- a connection between reader and writer. I want readers to better know who we are. I love and promote women of color writers because if I don't, who will?

If that's not personal enough for you, you'll have to come back each week for more. You'll have to engage me. I have no shortage of opinions and I'm pretty open. If you ask, I'll answer. Be careful what you ask though. I don't blow sunshine up folks' behind. I'm pretty candid. I say what I mean and I live what I believe.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programing.