Category: justice

When satire gets serious about human rights: Encountering CANDIDE

~ Stephanie Barbé Hammer ~ 2 Comments

As I mentioned in my last blog post, my friend Kathy and I are struggling through a very boring book for French class at a fancy private school in 1969... Kathy has news for me about this book. “It’s got cutting off asses in it,” Kathy whispers to me at the library. “What?” I reply … Continue reading When satire gets serious about human rights: Encountering CANDIDE

keeping it real, just this once

~ Stephanie Barbé Hammer ~ Leave a comment

Dear friends of the unreal -- I was preparing an inspiring post talking about 4 wonderful artists when the US elections happened. The final tally is in process, but it seems probable that Mr. Trump will become the presidential incumbent. One of the reasons I love magical realism is that this kind of writing allows … Continue reading keeping it real, just this once

That You Were Meant For Great Things — Dream Big, Hope Bigger

~ Stephanie Barbé Hammer ~ 2 Comments

My newest story -- and my newest character  -- appears courtesy of guest editor and incredible writer/essayist/novelist/activist Ryka Aoki and the beautiful, brave James Franco Review:   "That You Were Meant For Great Things"

re-pairing, reparationing — Natasha Marin and making the questions real

~ Stephanie Barbé Hammer ~ 6 Comments

Friends, This has been an intense summer. So much of the news in the United States today feels -- well -- unreal. I've been at a loss to write about it. So, I've been watching tv and wondering what my white, WASP Republican family would say about Donald Trump if they were still alive. They … Continue reading re-pairing, reparationing — Natasha Marin and making the questions real

it’s personal

~ Stephanie Barbé Hammer ~ Leave a comment

Friends – the murderous attack on the Pulse is personal. Why? Because I grew up with queer people. When I was a little girl in Manhattan, I knew women who lived together and who wore flowers in their hair, waltzing up and down Madison Avenue and painting up a storm in the Hamptons. My grandparents … Continue reading it’s personal

the ones left behind: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Reyna Grande, 02/09/15 (coloring books project)

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Friends -- I took a look at a memoir that Vickie Vertiz recommended to me. "It's about who gets left behind in that trip from Mexico to the US," I remember her saying. I always feel a bit anxious reading work about Mexico. I don't speak Spanish, and I am not originally from the West … Continue reading the ones left behind: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Reyna Grande, 02/09/15 (coloring books project)