The second episode of Re: Lit is coming out this Friday at noon, and will feature Hendrix junior Thalia Fort. Head to anchor.fm/hendrixmurphyfoundation to see what it’s all about!
The fifth in our BIPOC Murphy Visiting Writers series is Edwidge Danticat, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and many other honors. She was a Murphy Visiting Writer during the academic year of 2015-2016. With her fiction focusing especially on the immigrant experience and diasporic politics, her words are especially relevant today.
The fourth in our BIPOC Murphy Visiting Writers series is Kevin Young, the author of multiple collections of poetry and non-fiction collections of essays. He was a Murphy Visiting Writer during the academic year of 2015-2016. His lyric verse touches many subjects, including family, food, loss, the blues, and his identity as a Black man in 21st-century America.
The third in our BIPOC Murphy Visiting Writers series is Yusef Komunyakaa, a professor at New York University and the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry winner. He was a Murphy Visiting Writer during the academic year of 1999-2000. Having experienced the Civil Rights era in the rural South and served in the Vietnam War, he reminds us of what it really means to be American.
The second in our BIPOC Murphy Visiting Writers series is Gwendolyn Brooks, Pulitzer Prize for Poetry winner and Chicago resident. She was a Murphy Visiting Writer during the academic year of 1993-1994. Her words still resonate with us today.
In light of the Black Lives Matter movement and the racial injustice that is ever-present in this world, we want to take the next couple of weeks to highlight the BIPOC Murphy Visiting Writers whom we have had the privilege of meeting and listening to over the years. The first in our series is Maya Angelou, a previous resident of Stamps, Arkansas, and Murphy Visiting Writer during the academic year of 1987-1988. We have much to gain from her wisdom and experience.
Hendrix-Murphy's new podcast, Re: Lit, has launched! Tune in at https://anchor.fm/hendrixmurphyfoundation to hear host Danielle Kuntz '23 and her guests, Mary Ingabire '20 and Adaja Cooper '23, discuss voices of color in contemporary poetry.
The first episode of our new podcast Re: Lit is out and ready for listeners! Check out our discussion on the voices of people of color in contemporary literature at https://anchor.fm/hendrixmurphyfoundation 📚
Hendrix-Murphy is starting a new literary podcast, titled Re: Lit! Join us at https://anchor.fm/hendrixmurphyfoundation this Friday at 12 noon to check out our first episode, The Voices of People of Color in Contemporary Literature. We're sure you'll love it!
AR Shakespeare Theatre's new Revisiting Shakespeare group is hosting "From Othello to Hamilton: Race and Black Presence in American Theatre." https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SZeHVwxlQo-Dzn3NSaT1-Q?fbclid=IwAR2IGvC92J-tBz-u7bFo_Icn3xqVJ0ExykHIxxiyijSTN_AE4vIDBoLqBho
This is Rachel Shepherd, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 with an interest in both the human mind and religion. Graduating 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 with distinction in Psychology, Religion, and Odyssey, Rachel also received the Moore Religion Award. During her time as a Murphy Scholar, she authored "Following Jesus: A Spiritual Odyssey," participated in Narrative Medicine in 2019, and completed an intensive study of Murphy Visiting Writers Nickole Brown and Jessica Jacobs. Congrats, Rachel! We're excited to see what the future holds for you.
This is Carlee Shepard, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 who enjoys studying both the sciences and literature and language. Graduating 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 with distinction in Biology and Environmental Studies, she also received the Johnson Biology Award. As a Murphy Scholar, Carlee did an intensive study of the Arabic language and Murphy Visiting Writer Sy Montgomery, and she participated in a Latin play at Hendrix College and the after-school French Club at Carl Stuart Middle School. She also combined her scientific and literary interests by authoring “A Foray into the Everglades,” a piece of place-based environmental writing. Here's to you, Carlee-- we hope your love for biology paired with literature and language takes you to places you've never been!
This is Kennedy Reynolds, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 who has spent her time studying the history of the world and the Spanish language. Graduating 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 with distinction in History and Spanish, Kennedy was also named to Phi Beta Kappa. As a Murphy Scholar, she participated in Hendrix-in-Madrid, took part in the Oxford Programme for Undergraduate Studies, traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, for the International Conference on the Short Story in English, and attended the C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference. Kennedy, we are thrilled with all you have accomplished so far and we can't wait to see what the future holds for you!
This is Jane Henderson, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 who has immersed herself in Spanish literature and language over the last few years. Graduating 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 with distinction in Psychology, Jane was also named to Phi Beta Kappa. As a Murphy Scholar, she participated in Hendrix-in-Madrid, traveled to Spain for a Spanish Civil War trip, and performed an interdisciplinary study of "La Retirada" in Barcelona. She also traveled to New York City for the "Loophole of Retreat" conference. Congrats, Jane— may your love for literature and language continue to carry you around the world!
Rep. John Lewis, receiving the National Book Award in 2016, was overcome with emotion recalling a boyhood in which he was not allowed in the public library due to the color of his skin. Hendrix-Murphy lifts up the love of books and reading for all, especially black and brown persons who were historically denied access by both overt and invisible barriers. At this momentous time, we redouble our own commitment to being part of the solution and dismantling racist systems. In July we’re launching a new podcast, “Re: Lit,” the first episode of which will highlight Black voices in contemporary literature. Also, watch for our series of thought-provoking words from Murphy Visiting Writers of color. This summer and beyond, join us as we strive to make our world of letters a beloved community, building a nation that fully delivers on its promises of equality, justice, and inclusivity. Happy Juneteenth! (Sculpture: Martin Luther King memorial by Frank Hayden) https://twitter.com/nationalbook/status/1274031943181426688?s=20
This is Olivia Hardick, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 who has spent much of her time at Hendrix involved in Spanish literature. Graduating 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 with distinction in History and Spanish, Olivia was also named to Phi Beta Kappa. As a Murphy Scholar, she participated in Hendrix-in-Madrid, studied abroad in Argentina, and was the co-leader for visiting writer Daína Chaviano's reading group. Here's to you, Olivia! We can't wait to see where your passion for literature and language takes you.
This is Haven Griffin, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 who is significantly interested in not only the sciences but also Spanish language and culture. Graduating 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 with distinction in Neuroscience and Odyssey, Haven has completed multiple Murphy Scholar projects relating to Spanish. She participated in Hendrix-in-Madrid, lived in the Spanish House on the Hendrix College campus, and authored a Spanish translation project titled "Women in the Spanish Civil War." ¡Felicidades, Haven! We hope your love for literature and language carries you far!
This is Emma Gimenez, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 who has devoted her time at Hendrix to both psychology and language. Graduating 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 with distinction in Psychology and Odyssey, Emma received the Margaret E. Fitch Award in Psychology and was named to Phi Beta Kappa. As a Murphy Scholar, she completed projects both abroad and on campus: She studied Italian in Bologna and helped Rwandan girls use creative writing to enhance their well-being. At Hendrix, she served as a Spanish Peer Learning Assistant and acted as Translation Assistant for Dr. Anne Goldberg's Costa Rica Blue Zones research. Congrats, Emma! We can only imagine all of what you will accomplish in the future.
This is Bailey Brya, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 who is deeply interested in the connections forged by the nations of the world. She graduated 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 with distinction in International Relations and Odyssey, and she received the Ian T. King Prize in International Relations. As a Murphy Scholar, Bailey studied in China through the Hendrix in Shanghai program and through the Chinese language-immersion program in Guilin, China. She also served as a writing mentor at Anne Watson Elementary and completed a Hendrix-Murphy editing project titled 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘕𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦. Bailey, we are proud of what you've accomplished in the realm of literature and language, and we can't wait to see where it takes you!
This is Emily Gardner, a Murphy Scholar of the Class of 2020 with a passion for theatre and playwriting! She graduated with distinction in Theatre Arts and Dance and received the Vivian Hill Drama Award. Emily took on multiple playwriting projects as a Murphy Scholar, where she participated in 4-H, the Hendrix-Grown Theatre Playwriting Project, acted as the dramaturg for 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘐, and completed a Hendrix-Murphy playwriting-intensive study trip to St. Mary's University in London. Congrats, Emily! We look forward to what you may write and accomplish in the future!
