Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat spoke to a full-house at Memorial Chapel Feb. 8. Danticat is Wesleyan's 2012 Fred B. Millett Visiting Writer and a former MacArthur fellow. The Millett Visiting Writer event is held annually in honor of the late Fred Millett, professor of English, emeritus.
Gina Athena Ulysse, associate professor of anthropology, associate professor of African-American Studies, introduces Danticat to the audience. Ulysse is director of Center for African-American Studies.At left, Krishna Winston, the Marcus L. Taft Professor of German Language and Literature; Joel Pfister, the Kenan Professor of the Humanities, chair and professor of English; and Mellon-Mays fellow Keisha Mayers '13 listen to Danticat's talk. Danticat said her literacy influences are always evolving.Following her talk, Danticat, the 2011 recipient of the Langston Hughes medal, signed dozens of copies of her books.Danticat signs a copy of her book, "The Farming of Bones," an American Book Award winner. She also is the author of "Breath, Eyes, Memory," the story collection "Krik? Krak! "(a National Book Award finalist), and the novel-in-stories, "The Dew Breaker." Her memoir, "Brother, I’m Dying," was a 2007 finalist for the National Book Award and a 2008 winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography. "Create Dangerously," her most recent book, is a collection of essays.The event was co-sponsored by the English Department; Writing at Wesleyan; African American Studies; Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies; the Office of Diversity; the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship and Academic Affairs.Gina Ulysse, Edwidge Danticat and poet Kate Rushin mingle after the talk. (Photos by Charlotte Christopher '12)
Olivia Drake
Mike Mavredakis
Jeff Harder