“Why read Naylor? Why read?” asked Dr. Michelle Loris, Associate Dean of Curriculum and Special Projects at Sacred Heart University (SHU). “Because literature speaks to us about our humanity, it tells us something about the human condition.”
SHU’s College of Arts & Sciences and Department of Languages and Literature hosted the “With a Pen in Her Hand”: Communities in Gloria Naylor’s
Fiction & Her Archives Conference from Oct. 19-20, celebrating the
return of Naylor’s archives to campus.
Source: Tracey Deer-Mirek, Sacred Heart University
Gloria Naylor (1950-2016) was an African-American author known for addressing racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia in her work. Her debut novel, “The Women of Brewster Place,” was awarded the National Book Award and is still taught in schools across America, including SHU, where it has become a required text for English 201 courses.
In 1994, following her teaching of “The Women of Brewster Place,” Loris lobbied to award Naylor with an honorary degree. In 2008, thanks to her collegial relationship with Loris and appreciation for Sacred Heart’s dedication to inclusivity and community, Naylor donated her archives to Sacred Heart.
Source: Moira Staples, Staff Photographer
“Why is it significant? Who cares? She [Naylor] has been one of
the emerging and dominant voices of African-American women writers. What they have brought to American literature is in many ways immeasurable because it gets us thinking about literature in different ways,” said Loris.
Dr. Emily Bryan, co-director of this conference, said she thinks Naylor knew that Loris would effectively and seriously make it her obligation to broaden this conversation. “We really do look forward to figuring out ways to integrate Naylor’s archives into our coursework, but also maybe figure out ways to invite scholars here to work on her
archives,” Bryan said.
Loris does see this as an obligation, especially as a faculty member of a higher learning institution.
“As a university, our job is to cultivate, develop, and promote knowledge and truth,”
said Loris. “So how is this not part of that larger enterprise?”
Bryan also noted the importance of Naylor’s works, compared to other archives.
“I think it is very important for us to support the study of Black women writers in the archives when most of what has been saved and kept was really white, male writers,” said Bryan. “So, it’s a correction to that because she [Naylor] has so much documentation, putting it here, she knew we would take special care of it.”
Many of Naylor’s characters prompt readers to think about the intersectionality of women: thinking of the character as a person beyond merely their gender, race, class, and sexuality.
Loris’ English capstone class works with influential, often marginalized American writers, like Naylor, to learn more about the ways they capture humanity and speak about the human experience. As a part of their work, many students turn to the archives for research and examples in Naylor’s pieces.
Senior English major Colleen Degennaro said that by studying writers like Naylor, she feels that she has a better understanding of the world around her and her place within it.
“African American literature, specifically Naylor’s writing, kind of flips the concepts of white supremacy and the social constructs we have established in our society on its head. It allows us as students to actively participate in antiracism and that prepares us as the generation going into the world to continue that work and bring about a more inclusive society.”
Along with the conference, an exhibition of Naylor’s works, including a mural painted by SHU students, will remain on display in Edgerton Atrium Art Gallery from Oct. 19 through Dec. 1.
