Voice of Consciousness

20 Marks of a Criminal Record [Poem] -- A Tribute to Devah Pager (1971-2018) I have to  write:  Devah Pager died  of pancreatic cancer  two days ago, y'all —  a write up in the Times spells out an in-depth obituary of some type called,  “When a Dissertation Makes A Difference” —  Wow.  Pancreatic cancer.  I need to eat better,  one .  Which one  will take me out?  Two .  Why live?  Three.   Because you have so much  to give  with only one  lifetime to give it,  four .  It is ok  to feel these ways,  right now —  she was that enormous  for everyone,  five .  Why I have to be Ok  with getting up at 3am  and trying to write --  papers do not write  themselves,  six .  Because she still with us  through the work she created,  seven...

As a health disparities researcher, I conduct theory-engaged, policy-relevant analyses of the political economy of ethnoracial inequality. — Abigail A. Sewell (@aasewell) May 24, 2017 Hi folks! I am hosting a poll on Twitter @aasewell as I prepare my materials for my re-appointment review. Can you help me out? Does the above description of my academic self best represent my research? What do you think? What needs to be modified or better specified? Check out this poll and let me know what you think in the reply comments.

With a name like "Abigail Sewell", people are usually surprised to meet me -- black, queer, masculine-of-center woman. Intending to put my gender non-conforming self on blast, I showed up to my Emory photo shoot by Bryan Meltz this past Fall in full gear -- tie, sweater vest, fancy socks, bright colored button down, and oxfords. I was pleased a couple of weeks later when Bryan sent me pictures that revealed myself as strong, confident, and at ease. This is the face that I want to present to students: We are not all battle-weary. Instead, the battle to be and write authentic fuels me to look to myself as the source of my own safety net and creative muse. Basically, it starts with me. I was reminded of that when a student in a class I guest lectured in this past Fall came to me and asked: "I hope you don't mind, but...Where do you buy your clothes?" A bit startled, I fumbled a bit for an answer. Yet, as this fellow Black masculine-of-center, gender non-conformin...