Arts and Culture 6 McGee Visiting Professor Sandra Beasley: Memory, Race, Disability and the Power of Writing

On Feb. 9, 2023, Sandra Beasley hosted a reading for the Davidson community. Beasley is the McGee Visiting Professor in Creative Writing and is teaching in the English department this semester. She has also published several works, including her memoir, Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales From an Allergic Life, and her poetry collections: Made to Explode, Count the Waves, I Was the Jukebox, and Theories of Falling. She shared pieces from some of these publications at her reading, and, in doing so, she shared her experience with issues relating to memory, family, disability rights, and racism.

Beasley began by reading from I Was the Jukebox. She shared “Another Failed Poem About the Greeks,” a piece that presents a first date through the lens of Greek mythology. Much of the poem is humorous; it quirkily juxtaposes Greek myths with modern reality through lines like “We went on the Pirate Ship three times, / swooshing forward, back, upside down, / and he cried Aera! waving his sword, / until the operator asked him to please keep / all swords inside the car.” While the poem evokes laughter, it also reminds readers and listeners that having a “failed poem” is acceptable. Beasley calls for poets to celebrate the messy imperfection of life. Similarly, Beasley embraces uncertainty in “Vocation,” a poem that reflects her experience of quitting her job to write and acknowledges the complexity of finding a true calling. This reminder is reassuring for those who are unsure about their future path, whether that be their major, career, or other life decisions.

Much of Beasley’s work explores the ways in which memory, racism, and cultural narratives intersect with each other. Beasley read “Antietam,” another poem from I Was the Jukebox. Beasley reflects on her experience growing up in northern Virginia and comments on the conflicting myths of the northern and southern regions of the United States. The poem tells the story of a young child visiting Antietam, a Civil War Battlefield; it examines the complex ways that northern and southern states share their history. For instance, the child wonders why the battlefield memorializes — or does not memorialize — certain Civil War figures, like Stonewall Jackson. “Jefferson, Midnight” — a poem from Made to Explode — also relates to our cultural memory. The poem discusses the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, and it raises questions about how and why we choose to remember certain figures, such as Thomas Jefferson. Both poems are part of Beasley’s quest to grapple with racism as a white woman, and they call for readers and listeners to reflect on unjust cultural memories.

“Card Table” and “Heirloom,” both poems from Made to Explode, also discuss memory by exploring inheritance and family histories.

In “Heirloom,” Beasley shows how seemingly simple foods, like heirloom tomatoes and tater tots, can tell stories about family relationships and legacies. For instance, the speaker recalls how her grandmother would make her tater tots on snow days, a basic tradition interwoven with love. Beasley also brings her family into “Card Table,” which tells the story of a card table gifted by her beloved grandparents. The poem portrays the table as a constant reminder of ancestry and familial love; in doing so, the poem reveals how memory can physically manifest itself. Beasley also shared “Say the Word,” a poem from Made to Explode. The piece encourages readers and listeners to celebrate the word “disabled” rather than avoiding the term. As Beasley explained, embracing the word “disabled” allows disabled individuals to connect with a proud community and offers a sense of belonging. Beasley also delved into her own experience with disability during the Q&A section of her presentation, adding greater depth to the poem. Beasley explained how she had to constantly mask the challenges of managing her complex allergies; she was also looking for a term that could encompass the frequent microaggressions she experienced, like probing questions about how she ordered at restaurants. She found a community by embracing the term “disability,” allowing her to finally feel understood. While Beasley appreciated this empathy and an opportunity for belonging, she also emphasized the responsibility woven within her disabled identity. She now advocates on behalf of all disabled individuals and strives for accessibility. For instance, as a professor, she avoids rewarding students for having a quick answer; instead, she tries to create an accessible classroom by acknowledging that students may process information at different paces.

Near the reading’s conclusion, Beasley shared a creative nonfiction piece: “Big Break - A Multiple Choice Test.” As its title implies, the piece is written as a multiple-choice test, and, while its format is creative and fun, the piece also comments on the demands of both publicity and femininity. Beasley reflects on body image throughout the piece, illustrating the pressure that many women feel to be thin. For instance, she poses a multiple choice question wondering “Which of the following is least useful when trying on sample sizes that don’t zip?” In doing so, she reveals that women are often expected to fit into a standardized body. She also explores the pain of being rejected from a position, showing the challenges of the literary world. Overall, the piece channels Beasley’s personal experiences into a powerful and productive narrative. Throughout her work and conversation, Beasley reminded listeners that writing is a personal, political, and cultural endeavor. For Beasley, the writing process is a form of power, and anyone who can write should wield it to help others. This attitude permeates throughout her pieces, and it encourages her readers and listeners to use their voices for good, a crucial step towards a more empathetic world.

At the Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina on February 6, 2023, I saw Samia perform her new album Honey . Samia is a New York City-based indie pop artist who released her debut album, The Baby , in 2020 and has been gaining traction in the music world ever since. Opening for Samia was Tommy Lefroy, a duo consisting of Wynter Bethel and Tessa Mouzourakis. Despite never having heard them before this concert, I was drawn in by the way their stage presence and ability to play off of each other instantly caught the attention of the crowd. Their undeniable chemistry kept the crowd interested as they ran through some of their discography. They sang a song about male manipulators and then proceeded to cover Alex G’s “Runner.” The only reason I mention this is because the first time I ever heard the phrase “male manipulator” was in reference to Alex G’s fans. To me, Tommy Lefroy’s performance of new single “Worst Case Kid” and an electric performance of “Dog Eat Dog” were the highlights of the opening act. Both will be featured on their new EP Rivals coming out March 10th, 2023.

When Samia came onstage, she performed songs from her new album, Honey, which came out on January 27, 2023. This concert was in Asheville, but she recently added a show in Charlotte, and I would highly recommend going to see her on April 17th, 2023 at the Visulite Theatre. Musically, the album is great to begin with; her voice is absolutely beautiful, and her lyrics never fail to cut deep. She shines in telling personal stories concerning her life and relationships while also maintaining a catchy tune. “Kill her,” “Freak out,” and “Sea lions” were my personal favorites. “Breathing song” and

“Honey” were the most impactful to the audience as a whole. They tell a story of a traumatic experience from two different perspectives. “Honey” is upbeat and cheerful, displaying how Samia attempted to distract herself from her problems. In “Breathing song,” she recounts the events which brought a lot of emotion out of the crowd. She also performed hits from her 2020 record The Baby like “Triptych,” “Stellate,” and “Is there something in the movies?” I firmly recommend seeing this artist live. You are simply going to get more out of every song; the emotion she draws out of the crowd is incredibly moving. You also don’t need to know every word to enjoy the show; just hearing Samia’s voice is magical. In terms of the performance itself, Samia’s band played well and were very emotive, making for a more interesting show. At various times, they all danced together which was just a sweet thing to see. Despite being in a venue with around 100 other people, it felt incredibly intimate, and this is an experience I would recommend to anybody, whether they know Samia’s stuff well or not.

Samia’s music can be found on all streaming platforms, and tickets for her upcoming show in Charlotte on April 19, 2023 are available now. Henry would like to thank Elias Henderson for making him aware of the show, and for his, Hollis Plexico’s, and Zoe Moseley’s company at the show.

Henry Wilcox ‘26 (he/him) is an undecided major from Greensboro, North Carolina. He can be reached for comment at hewilcox@davidson.edu.