I always appreciate and enjoy your perspective, Noha. We need your voice. We need all our voices because unless we speak up, we are assigned an identity group and are stereotyped. We are no longer seen as individuals.
I was at a farmers market last summer and met a woman from Togo. We started chatting about Mother Africa and all that it means for those of us who are her children. After about an hour long chat, my family kept hinting that it was time to leave and as I said goodbye to her, she thanked me for stopping by and then said something that stuck me in my heart. “It’s so good to talk to someone who knows we Africans are not children or monsters.” Oh, my.
That is why we need to listen to anyone who has a story to tell. Otherwise we live in a world of someone’s caricatures.
"Not children or monsters" - oof! But as I think about it, it's so very true. We are often either vilified or infantilized. I'm so glad for these conversations too. I feel as though there are more voices now but if the state of the world is any indication, it's still not nearly enough.
I was working late once in our Khartoum office and getting ready to make call to WDC when one of our therapeutic feeding project physicians assistants came through the door. I asked him why he was so late and he said he wouldn’t leave until every patient was taken care of. No one should go away without help.
I was in central Nicaragua where we had a mother child health project and met a woman who had volunteered as a community health worker from the beginning of the six year project. I asked her what motivated her to keep working as a volunteer. She looked at me quizzically, as if I should know the answer. “Who will do the work if I don’t?”
I agree with Noha's ideas of community. I too will never be that artist in residence or obtain an MFA but having an online community of writers and readers has been a profound blessing. Thanks Eleanor and Noha.
Noha! I always love learning more about you. I am sooo glad you are writing Letters from a Muslim Woman. It’s brilliant and so clearly you. ♥️
Thanks, Noha. Thanks, Eleanor.
Thank you so much, Holly! I remember you reading when I was still finding my voice and I’m so grateful to have met you here and to call you a friend.
Thank you for sharing your journey, Noha. It’s illuminating to know how staying true to yourself would give birth to freedom and a sense of belonging.
It really is. And somehow it's obvious after the fact but always such a struggle in the middle lol... Thank you for reading.
I always appreciate and enjoy your perspective, Noha. We need your voice. We need all our voices because unless we speak up, we are assigned an identity group and are stereotyped. We are no longer seen as individuals.
I was at a farmers market last summer and met a woman from Togo. We started chatting about Mother Africa and all that it means for those of us who are her children. After about an hour long chat, my family kept hinting that it was time to leave and as I said goodbye to her, she thanked me for stopping by and then said something that stuck me in my heart. “It’s so good to talk to someone who knows we Africans are not children or monsters.” Oh, my.
That is why we need to listen to anyone who has a story to tell. Otherwise we live in a world of someone’s caricatures.
"Not children or monsters" - oof! But as I think about it, it's so very true. We are often either vilified or infantilized. I'm so glad for these conversations too. I feel as though there are more voices now but if the state of the world is any indication, it's still not nearly enough.
Noha, we have no reason to loose hope.
It kept me going. The world is full of generous, kind, good-hearted real people, no matter where you go.
❤❤❤
We don’t. We have to keep hoping so it motivates us to act, or at least to act regardless of whether we hope or not.
I was working late once in our Khartoum office and getting ready to make call to WDC when one of our therapeutic feeding project physicians assistants came through the door. I asked him why he was so late and he said he wouldn’t leave until every patient was taken care of. No one should go away without help.
I was in central Nicaragua where we had a mother child health project and met a woman who had volunteered as a community health worker from the beginning of the six year project. I asked her what motivated her to keep working as a volunteer. She looked at me quizzically, as if I should know the answer. “Who will do the work if I don’t?”
Where there is love, there is always hope.
I love these stories. I need good news. It helps me keep hoping.
I'm finding these interviews about writers' experiences with Substack fascinating.
Thanks, Liz! I've loved so many of Eleanor's interviews.
You’re welcome, Noha!
I agree with Noha's ideas of community. I too will never be that artist in residence or obtain an MFA but having an online community of writers and readers has been a profound blessing. Thanks Eleanor and Noha.
Thanks, Matthew! It's the possibilities that weren't available that now suddenly are, you know?