Today’s early morning started off great: breakfast and a chat with Heidi Durrow! The discussion was wide ranging with excellent audience participation (and a great radio host, Dave Miller). If you would like to hear the discussion, go to http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/girl-who-fell-sky/ , then come back and comment on this post.
The topic today centered around being biracial, and “discovering race”-when you answer the question, “what are you.” Heidi’s self titled “Afro-viking”, she says, creates conversation, and “expands the definition of black and whiteness.” Many audience members were able to share their stories or at least able to give their opinion. The same question, then directed towards the audience, is now being presented here: how do you respond when someone asks, “What are you?”
In addition to the biracial issue, Heidi also discussed how other people reacted to the book. She told one woman not to read it for fear that it might hurt her more (although, the girl then said she would read it anyway.) Regardless of who or “what” you are, everyone takes away something different from the novel. What did you take away from it? Heidi’s mom was there, which was an awesome experience. After reading her daughter’s novel, she learned a lot about what Heidi had gone through, and also “learned about herself.” Did it make you think about yourself? If not, what did you think about?
