Michelle Kuo – "Reading with Patrick" | 2017

Summary

In this heartfelt talk, the speaker reflects on her transformative experiences teaching in Arkansas and the profound impact on her life and perspectives. She shares the story of Patrick, a former student, and their journey reading together in jail, exploring the power of literature to foster self-reflection and change. The narrative delves into policy discussions around education, rehabilitation, and the challenges faced by ex-felons, advocating for empathy and understanding in addressing societal issues.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker, Rachel, emphasizes the transformative power of reading and storytelling, particularly in the lives of marginalized students.
• 🏫 Rachel's experience teaching in an alternative school in Arkansas highlighted the importance of providing quiet spaces and books for students who are often labeled as 'bad kids'.
• 🤔 She raises questions about the impact of reading together versus alone, and how it can foster a common language and emotional connection.
• 📖 The story of Patrick, a student Rachel taught, illustrates the complexities of life choices and the struggle with the justice system, showing that books can change perspectives but not always outcomes.
• 🔍 Rachel discusses the need for a shift in discourse around justice and education, making the invisible aspects like curriculum, violence, and truancy visible in policy conversations.
• 🏛 She calls for a reevaluation of how society views and treats violent offenders, suggesting that many are products of poverty and lack of support rather than inherent predators.
• 🌱 The importance of creating opportunities for reading and writing outside of the classroom is underscored, including addressing 'book deserts' in rural areas.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Rachel shares her journey of self-discovery and the realization that knowing oneself is crucial for effective teaching and storytelling.
• 🔄 The concept of transformation is central to storytelling, with Rachel questioning whether the changes she and Patrick experienced are permanent or temporary.
• 🌟 The power of poetry is highlighted, with Rachel and Patrick finding connection and meaning in poems that resonate with their experiences.
• 🤝 The narrative concludes with a call to action for employers to hire and support ex-felons, emphasizing the need for societal structures to facilitate reintegration.

Q & A

What is the significance of Rachel's return to Arkansas as mentioned in the script?

Rachel's return to Arkansas is significant because it represents a place where she feels she came of age and where her politics and personal beliefs were transformed. It is also the setting of the story in her book, which revolves around her experiences teaching in Helena, Arkansas.

What was Rachel's initial impression of the alternative school she was assigned to in Helena?

Rachel's initial impression of the alternative school was that it was a 'dumping ground' for students who had been expelled from other schools. The students were predominantly African-American, and the staff was largely composed of substitute teachers. The school lacked many resources, including sports teams, a guidance counselor, mental health counselors, and a functioning library.

How did Rachel's students respond to silent reading sessions in the classroom?

Contrary to their usual noisy behavior, Rachel's students were remarkably quiet during silent reading sessions. They were found to be thirsty for books and quiet spaces, which was a revelation for Rachel and challenged the stereotype of these students being 'bad kids'.

Who is Patrick and what was his main issue during Rachel's second year of teaching?

Patrick was a quiet, introspective student who enjoyed reading and writing poetry. However, his main issue was his inconsistent attendance; he would disappear for days on end, which was a problem Rachel attempted to address by visiting his home.

What was the turning point for Patrick that led to his transformation?

The turning point for Patrick was when Rachel visited him at his home and convinced him to attend school regularly. As a result, he started to improve, began attending school every day, and even won the 'most improved' award at the school.

What conflict did Rachel face involving her parents regarding her decision to stay in Arkansas?

Rachel faced a significant conflict with her parents, who were unhappy with her decision to stay in Arkansas and not pursue a more traditional, lucrative career in medicine. They questioned her dedication to teaching children who were not even her own and expressed concern about her future, including her marital prospects.

How did Rachel's perspective on her students change after reading 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' with Patrick?

After reading 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' with Patrick, Rachel realized her own narcissism in relating to the hero, Lucy. Patrick's identification with Edmund, the character who makes mistakes and seeks forgiveness, helped Rachel reflect on her students' desire for self-forgiveness and a sense of belonging.

What impact did reading haikus have on Patrick during his time in jail?

Reading haikus had a profound impact on Patrick. They allowed him to express his thoughts and feelings in a concise and poetic way. The haikus resonated with him, and he even wrote his own, reflecting on his life and transformation.

What was the book that Rachel and Patrick read together that led to Patrick writing transformative letters to his daughter?

The book that inspired Patrick to write transformative letters to his daughter was 'Gilead' by Marilynne Robinson. The book's narrative, in which a pastor writes to his son, influenced Patrick to express his love and lessons to his own daughter.

How did Rachel's experiences in Arkansas influence her views on education and justice?

Rachel's experiences in Arkansas, particularly her time teaching and later reading with Patrick, led her to advocate for changes in how society discusses and approaches education and justice. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the individual stories behind students and inmates, the need for rehabilitation, and the value of literature in transforming lives.

What are the three policy areas Rachel suggests need attention to improve the situation for people like Patrick?

The three policy areas Rachel suggests are: 1) Encouraging employers to hire felons and supporting their reintegration into society. 2) Rethinking the prison system, particularly regarding the treatment of mental health and addiction issues, rather than incarceration. 3) Creating connections between urban and rural areas and building institutions in rural areas to provide more opportunities and resources.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Reflections on Teaching and Writing

The speaker, Rachel, expresses her gratitude for being back in Arkansas, a place that shaped her political views and personal growth. She introduces the story of her book, which involves her experiences teaching in an alternative school in Helena, Arkansas. Rachel emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the transformative power of literature, particularly in the lives of marginalized students. She recounts her challenges and discoveries during her first year of teaching, including the revelation that so-called 'bad' students crave quiet spaces and literature.

05:01

🌱 The Impact of a Dedicated Teacher

Rachel shares her journey with Patrick, a student who initially struggled with attendance but showed promise. Through home visits and personal connections, she was able to encourage Patrick's regular attendance and academic improvement. However, after leaving Arkansas to attend law school, Rachel learns of Patrick's tragic involvement in a fatal fight, which leads her to reflect on her role and the potential impact she could have had if she had stayed.

10:02

📖 The Power of Reading Together in Incarceration

The narrative shifts to Rachel's decision to return to Arkansas and her experience reading with Patrick in jail. She explores the question of whether a book can change a life and the unique dynamics of reading together versus reading alone. Rachel discusses the significance of shared experiences in reading and how they can foster a common language and emotional connection, using 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' as an example of how reading together can offer new perspectives.

15:04

🎶 The Resonance of Poetry and Personal Growth

Rachel delves into the transformative effect of poetry on Patrick, highlighting how the structure and emotional depth of haikus resonated with him. She shares examples of haikus that Patrick found particularly moving and how writing poetry became a medium for him to express his thoughts and feelings. The summary also touches on the reading of 'Frederick Douglass' and its profound impact on Patrick's understanding of freedom and self-worth.

20:05

💌 The Healing Process Through Letter Writing

The speaker discusses the therapeutic impact of letter writing on Patrick, especially as he penned letters to his daughter. Inspired by literary works like 'Gilead' and a letter from James Baldwin, Patrick's writing evolved to convey a newfound sense of warmth and self-acceptance. Rachel reflects on the limitations of literature in completely transforming lives, as Patrick faced significant challenges upon his release from prison.

25:05

🔍 Making the Invisible Visible in Policy and Discourse

Rachel transitions to discussing policy and discourse, emphasizing the need to humanize violent offenders and understand the circumstances leading to violence. She challenges the prevailing narratives around violent crime, suggesting that it often stems from poverty and a lack of police intervention. The speaker also stresses the importance of considering the inner lives of individuals like Patrick, who grapple with guilt and the desire for punishment.

30:05

🏫 Rethinking Education and Addressing Truancy

The focus shifts to education, with Rachel advocating for a curriculum that excites students about reading and writing outside of school. She highlights the existence of 'book deserts' and the need for greater access to literature in rural areas. Rachel also addresses the issue of truancy, suggesting that it may be a symptom of a larger problem involving school environments, lack of parental support, and limited activities for children in rural areas.

35:05

🛠️ Policy Solutions for Felon Reentry and Rural Development

Rachel proposes policy solutions to aid felons in reentering society, such as encouraging employers to hire individuals with criminal records and considering the abolition of prisons in favor of mental health treatment and rehabilitation. She also discusses the importance of creating connections between urban and rural areas and building institutions in rural communities to foster development and provide opportunities for residents.

40:07

📖 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Storytelling

In the final paragraph, Rachel reflects on the challenges of writing her book, including overcoming self-doubt and finding her authentic voice. She emphasizes the importance of knowing one's roots and the transformative power of storytelling, which includes moments of self-realization and the courage to challenge dominant narratives. Rachel concludes with a reading of poems that resonated with Patrick, celebrating the beauty and mystery of life and the power of poetry to inspire awe and reflection.

45:07

🤝 The Ongoing Support for Patrick and the Importance of Connection

The script concludes with a discussion about Patrick's current situation, with Rachel expressing hope that employers in Helena will offer him opportunities for stable employment. She also shares updates about Patrick's daughter and the continued efforts to support Patrick in his journey, highlighting the importance of community and connection in facilitating change and rehabilitation.

Keywords

💡Arkansas

Arkansas is a state in the southern region of the United States, significant in this video as it is the location where the author's personal journey and teaching experience took place. The author describes it as a place where she 'came of age' and it 'transformed her politics.' It sets the backdrop for the narrative and the impact it had on her life and perspectives.

💡Humility and Love

In the context of the video, humility and love are presented as values that the author aspires to embody in her interactions and approach to life. They are highlighted as essential qualities that she discovered were important during her time in Arkansas, shaping her worldview and how she engages with others, including her students.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling is a central theme in the video, as the author discusses the power of narratives in shaping our understanding of ourselves and others. She reflects on the process of writing her book as an act of storytelling, where she had to overcome challenges and rewrite her narrative multiple times. The author also emphasizes the importance of storytelling in education and personal growth.

💡Education

Education is a key topic in the video, with the author sharing her experiences as a teacher in an alternative school in Arkansas. She discusses the transformative power of education, particularly the importance of reading and writing in students' lives. The author also addresses broader educational policy issues, such as the need for a more engaging curriculum and the challenges faced by students who are truant.

💡Policy Proposals

The author mentions policy proposals as part of her discussion on changing the discourse around justice and education in America. While specific policies are not detailed in the transcript, the mention implies a call for action and reform in the systems that impact these areas, suggesting the need for a more thoughtful and compassionate approach to policy-making.

💡Justice

Justice is a recurring concept in the video, as the author explores different dimensions of justice, including criminal justice and social justice. She discusses her student Patrick's encounter with the justice system and reflects on the broader implications of how society views and treats individuals involved in violent crimes, suggesting a need for a more nuanced understanding of justice.

💡Incarceration

Incarceration is a significant aspect of the narrative, as the author recounts her experiences visiting and reading with Patrick while he was in jail. The term encapsulates not only the physical act of being imprisoned but also the emotional and psychological impact on individuals and their relationships, as well as the potential for personal growth and transformation during this time.

💡Reading

Reading is highlighted as a crucial activity in the video, with the author detailing the impact of reading together with Patrick on their relationship and his personal development. Reading is portrayed as an intimate and transformative experience that fosters a common language, shared understanding, and emotional connection between individuals.

💡Transformation

Transformation is a key theme in the video, as the author explores the potential for change in individuals, particularly Patrick, through the power of reading, writing, and self-reflection. The concept of transformation is tied to the author's personal growth and her students' development, suggesting that change is possible but not always straightforward or complete.

💡Violence

Violence is a complex issue addressed in the video, with the author discussing her student Patrick's involvement in a violent incident that led to his incarceration. The term is used to explore the root causes of violent behavior, the impact of societal factors, and the need for a more compassionate and understanding approach to dealing with violent offenders.

💡Truancy

Truancy is mentioned in the context of the author's reflections on why students like Patrick might choose not to attend school. The term is used to examine the systemic and personal factors that contribute to students' disengagement from education, such as lack of support, negative school experiences, and the absence of engaging learning opportunities.

Highlights

Rachel's return to Arkansas signifies a deep connection and transformation in her personal and political beliefs.

The importance of quiet spaces and the thirst for books among 'troubled' students in alternative schools.

The story of Patrick, a student who initially struggled with attendance but later showed significant improvement.

Rachel's conflict with her parents over her commitment to teaching in Arkansas and the cultural expectations placed on her.

The tragic revelation that Patrick was involved in a fight that resulted in a death, challenging Rachel's beliefs about her impact as a teacher.

Rachel's decision to return to Arkansas to read with Patrick in jail, exploring the power of literature in rehabilitation.

The impact of reading 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' together and how it changed both Patrick's and Rachel's perspectives.

The significance of poetry, especially haikus, in Patrick's journey of self-expression and introspection.

Reading 'Frederick Douglass' together and the profound effect it had on Patrick's understanding of self-worth and freedom.

The transformative power of writing letters, as seen when Patrick wrote to his daughter with newfound hope and perspective.

The limitations of books in completely changing a person's life, as illustrated by Patrick's post-release struggles.

The need to humanize violent offenders and understand the socio-economic factors contributing to their actions.

The importance of curriculum in education and the need to inspire students to read and write outside of school.

The concept of 'book deserts' and the lack of access to books in rural areas, affecting children's literacy and education.

The issue of truancy and the complex reasons behind why students like Patrick choose not to attend school.

Strategies for reintegrating felons into society, including encouraging employers to hire them and providing necessary support.

The role of storytelling in self-discovery and the challenges of writing a book that authentically represents one's experiences.

The power of poetry to connect people and the shared experience of reading poems together, as exemplified by the closing poems.

Transcripts

[Music]

I'm so glad to be here

today thank you for that beautiful

introduction I'm Rachel which was so

poetic and generous I really appreciate

it thank you skip Rutherford for having

me here and mikolai for also

organizing it's really special to be

back here so I just want to say first

how much it means to me to be back in

Arkansas this is a place where I feel

like I came of age that she had formed

how I think transformed my politics

transformed my own sense of who I want

to be in the world

what kind of humility and love I want to

enter it with and it means so much to me

to be here in Little Rock so I'm going

to start by telling you a little bit of

the story of the book and thank you to

those of you who have read it and

apologies for having to hear the story

again and after I tell you a little bit

about the story I want to talk about

some policy proposals and ways we talk

about justice and education in America

ways to change how we talk about it and

finally I want to talk about telling

stories because that's what this book is

I mean I feel strange for it to be an

object I you know an object it's very

uncomfortable it's really just me trying

to tell a story and me trying to tell it

over a very long time and hating a lot

of the ways I told it and starting over

and starting over again and this is what

we do every day with each other with

people who are different with people who

we love people we've known all our lives

how to talk about ourselves and so I'm

just going to talk a little bit about

storytelling and what I've learned about

storytelling so first let me tell you a

little bit about this story

I came to Helena Arkansas when I was 22

years old I was very idealistic I was

quite sheltered I came from two

Taiwanese immigrant parents if you have

Taiwanese immigrant parents you know

there are no joke

they didn't get the memo about

self-esteem they had no idea what I was

doing at Arkansas they were very sad

that I wasn't in medical school and that

I wasn't making a lot of money god bless

my parents and I was determined to make

a difference

I knew it sounded cheesy I knew that

there are some people who were cynical

and said oh you just want to feel good

about yourself I didn't care I just

wanted to make a difference and I was

assigned as Rachel mentioned to an

alternative school which was basically a

dumping ground for kids who were bad

kids who had been kicked out of other

schools kids who had been expelled kids

who got into fights kids who didn't show

up who was all african-american and half

of the staff at this school were

substituted to substitute teachers the

school had no teams no guidance

counselor's no mental health counselors

no coach no librarian no functioning

library in fact but we did have a police

officer and when the student police

officer walked in the classroom the

students sat up because they knew to

respect the police my first year of

teaching I was struggling I didn't know

what I was doing I was trying to reach

students and then one thing that I

discovered and if there's one thing

somebody takes away from the book it is

this it is that the students who seem to

be the worst kids who have been labeled

as incorrigible are thirsty for quiet

spaces and that's something remarkable

to think about that during silent

reading when I found their write books

for students you couldn't hear a pin

drop for 20 minutes these are noisy kids

remember that kids who get kicked out

for kicking over a trash can over at the

other middle school and they are dead

quiet because quiet is so difficult to

achieve in their lives there are thirsty

for books their timing they stood up all

night reading books they want more books

to carry around they're proud to carry

these books

and that struck me it is so different

from our portrait of these bad kids and

among these kids that I met my second

year of teaching was Patrick he was a

student who was quiet who was

introspective who wanted to read he

didn't have to convince to write poetry

because he understood it was like

writing laughs lip rap lyrics they're

the same and he had just one problem

and that was that he wouldn't show up to

school he would just disappear for days

on end and I was crazy right I was 22 I

was like oh this problem is easy I just

go to his house and tell him to come to

school and in some ways it was that easy

because when I went to his house he

looked shocked to see me and he's not

very good at lying and he said well I

just I didn't come I didn't see why

should come and he started to come to

school every day he started to come she

started to improve he won the most

improved award at the school and it

seemed like things were getting better I

thought oh I'm making a difference now

at the end of these two years I'm trying

to decide whether to leave or to stay it

is an agonizing decision for me my

parents bless their hearts again come to

visit me and Helena I show them my

classroom I've covered my classroom with

pictures of my students pictures of

their poems I've realized that it

doesn't help to have pictures of Martin

Luther King and Malcolm X you need to

put pictures of themselves

you cannot fill students up with ideas

of who you think their hero should be

you need to fill them up with warmth

towards themselves and that is why every

day they saw pictures of themselves of

their own work so my parents come they

see the classroom they come to a Boys

and Girls Club event that my friends

have set up to create a Boys and Girls

Club and I think it's happening change

is happening my parents are transformed

and then what ensues is an incredibly

public fight which I soften the details

of in the book where my parents say all

kinds of things and it's so funny when I

talk to non-asian readers they always

say your parents sound crazy and when I

talk to Asian readers they're like oh

yeah your parents are really normal but

my parents say stuff that that you can

imagine I've gotten into law school at

this point thinking of postponing a

couple years at least and I've promised

Patrick and other students that I'm

going to stay until they at least

graduate from high school so I've made

these promises that I probably shouldn't

have made my parents say what has become

of our daughter all you do is talk about

school all you do is talk about kids

they're not even your own kids

other other Taiwanese kids why are they

they're so easy they listen to their

parents they make money they do science

why do you have to be so difficult and

my mom who is a very funny person it's

not funny when you're the target of her

humor who said you know you're going to

stay single if you stay here we know

that everybody she's like all your

friends who have stayed our couples she

said that's not an accident she says

you're going to be alone me I can tell

you're lonely

and nobody wants to marry Mother Teresa

she said I am a very filial child at

Chinese culture Taiwanese culture you

obey your parents love and obedience are

one in the same thing and I listen to my

parents I also do some soul-searching I

am lonely maybe it's not so selfish to

search for love I go to law school I

don't find love and fast forward three

years I get a phone call from one of my

dear friends who has stayed in the Delta

who's still involved in Helena nonprofit

work and he says to me Michelle you had

Patrick as a student didn't you my first

thought is that Patrick has died because

I've had students pass away before but

my friend says to me

patrick has gotten into a fight and

killed someone and I am devastated I

don't believe it because I've had

violent students but he was not violent

in my class he was he never bullied when

two students got into a fight he broke

up their fight so I was trying to

understand how what happens that

somebody nonviolent ended up in prison I

thought it had to be a mistake

I fly back three days after he's

arrested and I visit him in jail and he

tells me that it's true he did get into

it get into a fight until someone at the

end of Law School I'm at again at our

crossroads and I'm thinking to myself

what if I had stayed it sounds arrogant

to say that somebody's life would be

different if I'd stayed but if you know

a rural area you know that there's not

many people you know that relationships

are what people are thirsting for and

you know also that dropouts are more

likely to commit crime that just that

makes perfect sense

they don't have school they don't have

structure they're bored they get

involved they need a living so I'm

wondering what if I had stayed maybe

during this ethical dilemma I had three

years ago I became one of the people who

made the wrong choice and if you also

know the Delta as I'm sure a lot of you

here know it more intimately than I do

you know that it's a place that people

of means leave this is true today in

terms of the best high school graduates

leave and don't come back and it's been

true for a hundred years that all the

studies show that in the great migration

in the great migration those who left

the Delta tended to have more resources

more connections more education so that

those left behind are with the least

amount of contact with the outside world

so I was trying to situate myself in

this world and I thought I am one of

those who leave others behind and

doesn't stay

I decided to go back I had this job in

California and legal aid and I

throughout this time I'm thinking well

I'm still I still have my Lobo cred I'm

doing legal aid I'm making no money but

there's a part of me that's like I did

not do what I was supposed to do in

Arkansas so I go back and this is where

the heart of the book really takes place

which is when I start to read with

Patrick every day in jail in the

Hellenic County Jail I just want to

share three different things we read in

jail to give you a sense of the kinds of

conversations that we were having the

first thing that I had Patrick do was

write a letter to his daughter I didn't

think much of what this meant he had a

daughter who was at that time a year old

a baby daughter I just thought it's good

for him to write to her it's good for

him to have her on his mind and he wrote

a letter that was startling in terms of

what it said it said I'm so sorry for

not being there for you I'm so sorry for

the mistakes I've made I'm sorry I've

let you down and I thought to myself

this isn't the kind of letter that I

thought I wanted him to write full of

apology of for who he is I thought we

need to change how he thinks about

himself and we're going to do that with

reading as I tell you some of these

reading scenes I want you to think about

two questions that have troubled me that

I still don't have answers to the two

questions are this first is can a book

change a life can a book change a life I

see some nodding yes no yes okay well

think about that the second question is

how is reading together different from

reading alone reading together how is

that different from reading alone let's

maybe raise our hands if we've been read

to as children that's so lovely

long live reading together in the book

and how many of us have read to others

as a parents or friends yes this is a

different experience from reading alone

we know this we know that it's intimate

that you grow a common language together

you have the same you become scared of

the same monster you become loving

towards the same friendly bear whatever

book you're reading and I thought a lot

about this over these seven months the

first thing we read together was the

book the line which in the Wardrobe

which is a story of four children when I

was growing up I really related to Lucy

because readers tend to be narcissistic

and I was like I am the hero the little

girl who opens the closet isn't afraid

to go in and lead the children into this

world when Patrick read it and I asked

him who we related to his answered

startled me and helped me reflect on my

own narcissism he said my he said Edmund

and Edmund as you recall in the story is

the one who leaves the siblings and gets

tricked by the witch to eat these

delicious turkish delights and spends

the rest of the story trying to repent I

said why do you relate to Edmund and he

said because admin abandoned his

siblings and got tricked by the witch

throughout the story he was looking to

see what would happen to Edmund would

Edmund get forgiven by siblings

Patrick was also from a family of four

children and reading together helped me

think from his perspective from his

desire for warmth towards himself a

desire for a happy ending that he didn't

think he deserved and his connection to

his family his sense that he had failed

them that's the first example the second

is poetry one of the most lovely things

about us reading together being together

is that I get to share poems which some

say is dying I refuse to believe the

poem is dying and poetry is so inviting

to a student who feels like he's not

good at English

because there is so much silence on the

page because it is much more like a song

and less like text and grammar and

punctuation and there are a few poems

that really spoke to Patrick

the first is haikus these lovely nugget

sized Japanese pieces of short lines

that express some image and just want to

share a few of the haikus that that

struck Patrick and I also really loved

the first goes like this

napped half the day no one punished me

another goes like this it's imagine snow

winter is coming

you can't you never see your neighbor my

neighbor and deep autumn how does he

live I wonder yet another you can

imagine seeing two animals when it first

starts snowing deer licking first frost

off each other's coats so lovely right

just that kind of warmth of all

creatures yet another which Patrick

thought which laughed out loud

don't worry spiders I keep house

casually

[Laughter]

it's so amazing to discover poetry

alongside somebody to adopt new

favorites because that's his favorite to

think about a poem differently because

he thought about it differently man

Patrick wrote like a hundred haikus

during this time

haikus that expressed how he thought one

of them I think went like this outside

under scorching heat a man is working

coming calmly to himself because that's

what he wanted to be outside working

calmly that's a second scene a third has

to do with reading Frederick Douglass

and once again when we're thinking about

reading alone versus reading together

when I read Frederick Douglass I came

away with it thinking this is an

incredible man this is an orator this is

a representative American history this

is an abolition abolitionist this is a

man who was invited to Lincoln's

White House a first black man this is a

good American icon this is a man I want

to know those are not wrong thoughts but

they're very different from what patrick

came away with there is one scene that

made patrick physically stop when he was

reading his this scene in the holidays

where the Masters gave slit slaves gin

gives him a lot of gin

why because I knew the slaves would get

drunk on the gin they knew this lace

would stagger and stumble on the fields

and that the slaves would conclude we

don't deserve freedom we can't handle

freedom when we're given freedom we ruin

our freedom that was a tactic of the

Masters to keep the slaves feeling

undeserving to be free when I I don't

even remember reading that alone I don't

remember but when Patrick read it it

broke him apart there's a line from

Kafka that says a book should be like a

frozen axe

that breaks the see inside you and I

asked Patrick why the scene moved him so

much and he said he saw himself in that

he said he saw his fellow inmates in

that scene this feeling that they don't

deserve to be free because I keep

messing up we tend to think of slavery

as something that's over and done and

yet these emotions these feelings of

whether we deserve to be liberated

continue today so all three of those

scenes have to do with reading together

but what really moved me at the very

last month we were reading together as

wounde started writing these

extraordinary letters to his daughter

when he transformed and converted the

energy of that reading into writing he

read a book called Gilead by Marilyn

Robinson one of my favorites which is

about a pastor in a rural town writing

to his son and she begins these

beautiful lines that Patrick loved and

they begin like this if you ever wonder

what if what you've done in your life

and everybody does wonder sooner or

later you have been God's gift to me a

miracle more than a miracle and Patrick

wanted to write a letter like that to

his daughter he read another letter from

James Baldwin to his nephew from 1962

which I'll read here also if I can find

it

I tell you this because I love you and

please don't you ever forget it you must

survive because we love you and for the

sake of your children and your

children's children and then Baldwin

goes on for this is your home my friend

do not be driven from it you come from

sturdy peasant stock men who picked

cotton and dammed rivers and built

railroads and in the teeth of the most

terrifying odds achieved an unassailable

and monumental dignity during this time

Patrick started writing letters to her

that were so different from the letters

when we started these letters imagine

them canoeing down the Mississippi River

imagined them plucking berries from the

trees do berries they imagined them

reading together the line which in the

wardrobe and there were letters where he

shared knowledge of what he knew of what

he had learned and felt a kind of warmth

towards himself that he lacked at the

beginning this is where the book would

end if I wanted to end it with a happy

ending but the book doesn't end here and

this is where we have to talk about the

first question can a book change a life

books have certainly changed my life

but I don't believe that they completely

transform Patrick's life they change how

he felt towards himself at one time they

change his experience of incarceration

they change his idea of what you want to

learn about the world but they didn't

change his life when he got out the

obstacles and I naively thought that

they would that they would offer this

kind of inner resource and reservoir

form to go against the world

but the obstacles that he faced when he

got out of prison were so crushing

they're still crushing and I hope we can

think today about ways to help him and

other people in his circumstance so let

me transition now to the second part of

what I want to talk about which is

policy and discourse these are words

that sometimes we shudder I even shudder

at like no no more policy and discourse

because they're vague words but with

discourse I just want to

it's a way of saying how do we make

what's invisible visible how do we bring

issues that are invisible and make them

visible there are three things that I

think are invisible in our national

discourse

I think people in Arkansas get it much

better than people on the coast but I'll

go ahead and talk about them anyways the

first issue that's invisible is violence

violent offenders is how we talk about

people like Patrick even liberals it's

finally changing but the for past 20

years as James Forman has written

powerfully about was a Yale Law

Professor who was a public defender

liberals have ceded the territory of

violent offenses to conservatives so

that the violent offender has become

this really scary predator and we we

know what that looks like so we watch TV

I admittedly watch a lot of TV the

serial killer

Dexter Hannibal CSI Sherlock Holmes the

scary science sociopathic killer is

actually a tiny tiny percentage most

violent offenses come from poverty they

come from situations of fights gone mad

they come from a lack of prosecution by

police and we have to talk about it the

tendency is to talk about nonviolent

offenses drug offenses and that's good

it's good to reform but 50% of state

prisoners are violent offenders and we

have to talk about their stories what

they go through and how to rehabilitate

them let's go back to what happened to

Patrick that night a man came to his

porch with his younger sister his

younger sisters in special ed she's

three years younger

remember that Patrick is older and the

only man in the house were the only

sibling in the house

the man is 25 Patrick is 18 the man is

drunk

the man is aggressive the autopsy has a

meta point two six alcohol level and

Patrick keeps telling him to get off his

porch

Patrick gets a knife and stabs him three

times and it takes a long time for the

ambulance to come did Patrick overreact

probably maybe was it self-defense

possibly was it defense of his house of

its property yes these are difficult

questions the question to me isn't

shooting be punished or not be punished

but it's to a school and what

circumstances did this violence arise

all the studies show that there are

higher rates of homicide in communities

when there is a low rate of prosecution

of crimes as Danielle Ellen puts it and

her book when murder goes unpunished

murder baguettes murder and that makes

sense right

if your friend gets killed and the

police doesn't go after the person you

think you have free rein to retaliate

you think there is no justice you think

you have to enact justice yourselves

so self-defense occurs more in poor

communities where police are failing the

second part of humanizing violent

offenders is just to get at the inner

life of a person when I talked to

Patrick about these legal defenses I'm a

lawyer remember self-defense offensive

property he didn't want to hear about

legal defenses he didn't want to get off

he wanted to be punished he didn't want

to hear about sociological causes of his

crime he's accused very christian and

asked me if he was going to go to heaven

and this is part of the story I want to

tell to get a sense of this person and

how he needs healing but doesn't have

any guidance on it

so that's the first element of how we

change our discourse and make the

invisible visible we have to talk about

violent offenders

the second is curriculum it seems like

the only thing that happens at education

course today education discourse today

is talking about charter schools are you

for them are you against them if you're

against them you're sleeping with the

Conservatives if you're for them

wait you're for them is sleeping the

conservator gets up whatever anyways I

don't want to talk about our schools I

want to talk about curriculum I want to

talk about what's happening in a

classroom I want to talk about how do

you get kids excited about reading all

the studies showed if you get a kid to

fall in love with reading outside of

class his his performance will improve

inside of class all the studies showed

that you get a kid excited about writing

outside of class he's seven times more

likely to succeed in writing inside of

class do you seem really obvious but

somehow we don't talk about what this

means for us it means we have to find

ways that get kids excited about reading

and writing outside of class so that

means on playgrounds that means in

community centers that means in the

homes of people and it means to think

about access to books as well right

we've heard of food deserts where you

know there were we know that there is a

fresh food scarcity in rural areas and

places where you can't find fresh

groceries for hundreds of miles

there are also book deserts that's a

phrase for when there's a lack of books

it's so great to be in an audience with

architects I don't have to explain to

you the lack of books in the Delta you

won't be shocked to know that there are

a few bookstores for you know hundreds

of miles that public libraries are

under-resourced and that is something we

want to think about when we think about

how to get kids excited about reading

and writing outside the last thing well

the last thing related are writing is

writing can be really fun writing

captions the photographs you've taken

writing scripts to movies you're making

writing radio programs for something

you're going to be on writing the

narration of a dance that you're

creating writing can be exciting and we

have to figure out ways to do that out

of the school because the school isn't

working the second part sorry so that

those were the two things that were

invisible in discourse the curriculum

and violence and the last is truancy

Patrick wouldn't come to school why why

wouldn't he come to school the answer is

both really easy and hard it's hard

because I still don't exactly know what

he was doing there is something that's

impenetrable about that life and

somebody and I want more people from

Helena who are like Patrick to tell that

story

of what that day consists of I have

speculation of why they don't come to

school if you come to a school where

kids get into a fights with each other

and then are sent to jail if you come to

a school where somebody who talks back

gets paddled and he's 15 years old if

you come to a school where half of the

teachers are substitutes and let you go

on the computers school is very

depressing school doesn't seem like a

route to a place so that's one

speculation I have about truancy the

other speculation is just a lack of

structural support for parents so

Patrick's mother worked full-time as a

cook at a retirement home she I remember

her telling me that she had to work

night shifts and she worried about what

Patrick was doing when she was gone so a

lack of pails paid child care a lack of

structural support for parents and

Patrick's father himself was an ex-felon

who was in and out of prison the last

thing related to truancy which we all

know because we're intimate with rural

areas is the lack of things for kids to

do Patrick ended up in the hospital when

he was 11 or 12 because he was just

outside playing with a can of gas and it

burned him all across his body and I

thought that was I didn't know if that

was typical or not but when I talked to

some students from Helena about the book

yesterday

who are at the University of Arkansas in

Fayetteville they said oh yeah we were

just just doing stuff because we had

nothing to do and so we already know

this but creating more opportunities for

kids in rural areas to be doing things

so yes three policy things I want to

talk about first is felons how do we get

felons to reenter society we're back to

that question can a book change a life I

know the ending is not a happy ending in

the book I know that I'm kind of

embarrassed that the marketing makes it

seem like I you know I lifted Patrick

out of out of his situation I think I

did an incarceration but I didn't when

he got out so how do we encourage

employers to hire felons not just to

avoid discriminating against them but to

actually hire felons to give them a

chance the job is a single thing that

will rescue people that is what Patrick

most dearly wants to work outside I mean

it's a part-time job working at a

cemetery setting tombstones and he loves

that job he loves being outside he loves

being useful but there are a few

employers who want to take a shot on him

the second major thing we have to think

about with policy and I hope that it

doesn't sound too radical at least just

entertain this idea is to think about

prisons who is in prisons if we were to

abolish prisons

what would our society look like okay

yes there's a small minority of actually

sociopathic people repeatedly hurt

people but the vast majority of prison

are there for mental health reasons they

need treatment for drug addition

addiction they need treatment and for

property theft crimes they're stealing

because they're poor six states in

America that had the least amount of

access to mental health care are also

the states that had the most amount of

incarcerate

we already know that we're on that list

we can guess who else is on that list

there is something wrong with the

country when you think that the most

number of mental health prisoners are

house not in treatment facilities not in

hospitals but in jails and prisons and

Rikers New York and Cook County Jail and

we have to really think about this link

between mental health and felons because

as we know there's has to be some way to

heal people who enter the jail and when

they exit the jail you don't want them

to be unhealed right the phrase that

hurt people hurt people um we know that

we know that's true the last thing which

is really dear to my heart is how to

create connections between urban and

rural areas and how to build

institutions in rural areas if you build

it they will come

one of the most exciting places that I

worked at was San Quentin prison in

California were hundreds of volunteers

from colleges and universities would

come in to teach college education

programs for prisoners an extraordinary

number of prisoners who graduate from

college degrees don't come back to

prison they go on to leave fulfilling

lives and I want Arkansas to be at the

forefront of this in the south to build

these kinds of programs in prisons and

jails that all the college students

University students flock to the

professor's want to teach at the other

jails and prisons across the south want

to look up to okay we're reaching the

end the last thing is about telling

stories and this is really hard it took

me a long time to write this book it

took me seven years to write and you're

probably wondering what took you so long

I can tell you I was so afraid of the

critic who would say to me how dare you

talk about Arkansas you're not from

there you're not white or black you

didn't even stay

and that's all true I want somebody from

Arkansas from Helena to write this book

I want somebody who stayed to write this

book and so much of writing this book

was just finding my voice to talk about

myself and this is the first thing about

storytelling is that you have to know

where you're from

you have to know where you're from and

it was only through writing this book

that I realized something and I was 30

when I started running this or 29 and I

realized that I didn't actually know

myself very well I have avoided learning

about being asian-american since since I

was born and I had to figure out why why

was I so uncomfortable

why did I know so little I grew up in

one of the few Asian Americans in

Kalamazoo Michigan the people were

really welcoming over all but my parents

never told me stories about Taiwan so I

didn't know anything growing up and I

think the reason why I attached myself

to black tradition to black stories was

that it was a way for me to become

American to adopt a kind of racial

consciousness so while also fitting in

and it's only when I started writing

this book they started asking my parents

where or like where are you from

what is Taiwan like and they still

couldn't tell me because they'd grown up

under an authoritarian regime before a

democratized if they weren't told

stories about their history and then I

had to search more my husband who is

from Taiwan told me a lot and now my

parents accused him of brainwashing me

with a more liberal view of Taiwan you

know bringing home a nice Taiwanese boy

doesn't always help oh no is this

recorded okay nobody send this to my

parents

so I had to do that and I understand now

that I would have been a better teacher

if I had known myself better because

students love to joke around and I

learned a joke back so my students would

be like ooh do you know Jackie Chan miss

Kuo and I and I used to be really

offended but then now I was then I just

said to them oh are you related to Kobe

Bryant

they were like wait that's racist it's

like yes so and there are these brief

moments in the classroom where I see

more possibility like when I wanted

students to quiet down I would write

these Chinese characters on the board

and everybody would just go quiet they

were like they wanted to know more

there's such curiosity about other

places and other cultures and I should

have tapped into that I should have

shared more but because I didn't know

myself enough I didn't know how to share

that so the first thing about telling

stories is just really figuring out what

you're comfortable is with what your

silences are the second thing about

telling stories is that you have to have

moments that I call the full of crap

moments which is I am full of crap

and I have many of those moments in the

book where I realize I'm full of crap

and we know this when we talk to people

we don't like it when people think they

know everything when they won't change

their mind but equally true you also

have moment have to have moments where

you're confident that other people are

full of crap because that is what gives

you the conviction to keep writing

because you're writing against some

dominant story you know and I guess

really you know the words are more often

used with a full of more often used or

humility and vulnerability but I like I

like saying I'm full of crap

I'm felucca we all practice saying that

and the third thing that a story has to

have is transformations we like stories

with transformations you think about the

Greek myths where a person changes into

a tree or a nightingale or a rock or an

animal and there's something fantastic

about that possibility it's why kids and

adults love fantasy just this

possibility

of thinking totally differently about

the world this idea that you can have

this permanent change you're not

attached to yourself to your mistakes to

who you are and we want transformations

in a story I think a lingering question

in the book is whether the

transformation and Patrick lasted we

know that it happened

we know that transformations happen to

me but we don't know exactly how they

last when he gets out of prison and

that's okay the transformation doesn't

need to be so cheery but it needs to

happen and we want to desire each for

our own lives because we want that there

to be that sense of magic and divinity

and that that this is possible so those

are ideas I have and I thought it would

be appropriate just to end with two

poems that Patrick especially loved that

I also love to close this off since how

often do we get to read poetry together

if you want another one just say because

I have a lot of poems that I wouldn't

read the first poem is called love after

love I think it's something we can all

relate to it's by Derek Walcott who it's

tremendous poet the time will come when

with elation you will greet yourself

arriving at your own door in your own

mirror and each will smile at the others

welcome and say sit here eat you will

love again the stranger who was yourself

give wine give bread give back your

heart to itself to the stranger who has

loved you all your life whom you ignored

for another who knows you by heart take

down the love letters from the bookshelf

the photographs the desperate notes

peel your own image from the mirror sit

feast on your own life the second is a

simple poem also by Derek Walcott and I

just want to read the lines that Patrick

really loved days I have held days I

have lost days that outgrow like

daughters my harboring arms do we have

room for one more poem

what is one more poem okay why not just

read poetry all day

this is from Mary Oliver and it closes

the book because Patrick I said it to

him

after I left the Delta a second time and

he really loved this poem truly we live

with mysteries too marvelous to be

understood how grass can be nourishing

and the mouths of the lamb how rivers

and stones are forever n't allegiance

with gravity while we ourselves dream of

rising how two hands touch and their

bonds will never be broken how people

come from delight or the scars of damage

to the comfort of a poem let me keep my

distance always from those who think

they have the answers let me keep

company always with those who say look

and laugh in astonishment and bow their

heads thank you so much for having me

it's been so lovely

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

thank you so much

[Applause]

[Music]

we've got time for a couple of questions

before we do the book signing because I

know you'll want to visit with your

individually so anybody have a quick

question before we go to the book

signing anybody about Helena Arkansas

have a quick question because I have one

I'm glad they don't because here's the

question I want to ask Patrick is

working part-time at Cemetery tell us

about it sly tell us how he's doing

about his daughter what's going on with

with him right now yeah I'm so glad you

asked and it's his daughter is doing

great that is the happy news she's a

fourth grader she loves reading and math

she's in a good school in touch with

some of her teachers who say she's doing

well so that is great

Patrick is still struggling I have a

secret hope that people especially

employers near Helena and in Helena will

read the book and want to give him a

chance to take the time to train him to

understand that if you come out of

prison you're struggling with you're

going to be struggling it's true it's

traumatic but to be willing to Train and

help them often times it's going to be

small time business owners who take a

chance because corporations have rules

against hiring people at the records or

they give priority to people without

records we know that there aren't that

many small-time business owners we know

that they tend to give jobs

understandably to family and friends so

he is struggling he loves what he does

occasionally it's not full-time there's

no health care benefits it's just

minimum wage helps sometimes setting

stones at the cemetery and he showed me

some of the stones he sat there

beautiful and he's really proud of them

but I'm hoping that he can do more he

has a certificate he got a certificate

in carpentry got his GED in state prison

and I've encouraged him to take more

classes at the college

I think motivation is a problem these

are real mental health issues I don't

know if that helped now that's good

because I think it's

wanted to know that you're still in

touch with him and that we're trying to

help in people that can help Patrick

there are a lot of connections in this

room people know people and we can do

some of what Michele is done the teacher

a student and the life-changing

friendship reading with Patrick let's

thank Michelle for being

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

and please come visit weather and