The Genius Creatively Inherent in Diversity
I have spent over five decades working
with a diverse range of creatives in a wide variety of artistic expressions.
And it still fascinates me that the term diversity in the creative arts may not
necessarily be the case. While the recent social justice movements in the
United States have prompted many prepared statements from cultural entities,
only a few offer concrete, measurable plans to make their gracious words
meaningful reality. Most appear to be a statement of the moment, a statement of convenience. Nonetheless….let’s
face the social reality.
Homogeneity is boring and more
importantly, it assumes a degree of superiority, false privilege and eventually
artificiality.
aaduna stands on its Mission and more
importantly, what you see and read in any issue represents who we are.
It is that simple. The proven reality of
action behind the words, give those words inherent strength and moral
importance.
Here are brief opening excerpts from two
writers and a snippet of poetry from one; three more creatives whose work in
the coming issue will enrich your spirit.
 |
| Sarah Khan (photo provided) |
Sarah Khan (Karachi, Pakistan:)
Falling for
Grace
The edge of the heavy black suitcase fell on my big toe without any
crunching voice to accompany the contact. Unfortunately.
It would have made the accident a bit overbearing for the kind of dramatic
departure I was about to have. I hissed and shot a look towards my driver named
Rehman, whose hands held the detached strap of the bag. His eyes bulged at the
sight of my angry toe. It was visible from the slit of the wedges I wore.
“Sorry, Madam.”
The emotion
behind those words was lost in his attempts to wrap the strap around the handle
of the suitcase efficiently. At some level, I understood his hurriedness was
driven by my indignation towards affairs that are delayed. He knew the
ill-fated drop of the suitcase on my left foot had made us late. However, at
that moment, I was not impressed by his diligence. I wanted to take my driver
by the collar and shake him till his teeth chattered and broke off in pieces.
***
 |
| Dr. Neal Zeilinger (photo provided) |
Dr. Neal Zeilinger (Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA)
Another World
I first got my big, risky idea about two AM while
standing at my kitchen sink in nothing but my pajama bottoms. I was drinking a glass of water and
peeking out between the window curtains at some bizarre activities going on in
my neighbor's yard.
I
am living in a little house I inherited from my parents. The house is an old two-bedroom bungalow, a
perfect bachelor pad. When mom finally
died, I could not wait to make it my own.
Out went all her old furniture, the china, the crafts, the silver which
was only plate anyway. Out went all the
smelly old carpeting, the window coverings, the floral pattern wallpaper. I stripped the place and spent several
thousand making it tidy and modern and odor-free.
I
had not returned here after college.
Except for an annual visit, I did not see much of my parents. We were not conflicted; I just did not have
sufficient reason and I was busy. Dad
had died of cancer at fifty-one. Mom
then lived alone in this house for the next twelve years.
***
 |
| Dr. Crystal Harris (photo provided) |
Dr. Crystal
Harris (Cordova, Tennessee, USA), a snippet from
one of her poems,
I, Too,
Am Bathsheba
“Wash.”
“Cleanse in honor of
Him,” they said.
“My
pleasure,” she avowed.
“I’ll unwrap and
bask
according to
law,” she declared.
“Beautiful,” he
thought.
“Mine,” he
ventured.
Seductress, she
became.
God’s heart, he was
praised.
And the stench of
debauchery remained with her.
***
The aaduna double issue will launch this week!
aaduna - an online adventure with words and images - a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. Visit us at www.aaduna.org where we put measurable actions to our words.
aaduna-Inc Visit regularly for updates !
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