01/10/2025
I am a scientist. I am a counselor & s*x therapist. I am a doctoral student.
These are my intellectuals aspects, that yes, do sometimes merge with my spiritual side, my heart, and my body. Goddess knows doctoral studies have wrecked my body😂
As I have been reflecting on my professional self and my intellectual pursuits recently, I have been drawn closer to my intellectual roots. I have been pondering the people, systems, and subjects that have most influenced the development of my intellect. Writing about these contributions to my path seems like a small start of expressing gratitude for these people/things. I hope to someday train future healers in these cultural areas at greatly reduced rates/free, among others things to pay forward what was handed down to me.
People 1) Black scholarship and pleasure politics (particularly the New York City/Northeast American variety)
During elementary school I was introduced to the literature of the Harlem Renaissance and later on, black scholarship and thought. I was one of the very few pale white kids in my classrooms, but I devoured the contributions of these scholars and artists all the same. They inspired me through tough times, and motivated me to find joy even in the darkest of times. I thank black scholarship and pleasure politics for watering the soul of the weird little fat white/mixed girlchild I was. Thank you.
People 2) Jewish Scholarship, Drive and Community joy
Most of the white-ish people I knew outside my family growing up were Jewish. Many of the schoolteachers who supported me, were Jewish women. They always seemed to gift me the most impactful books and stories. The love for community and storytelling that I hold within me, was watered by the Jewish community. Even though I ain't one bit Jewish myself. Thank you.
People 3) Immigrant women and descendants
You learn what you need to survive. Learning and mastery, is survival.
I am the descendant of Irish, Puerto Rican, and German immigrants to the New York City area in the early 1900's. No one in my family went to college, but boyyyyy were some of the women in my life wicked smart. The women in my family, and the other immigrant women who raised me in the neighborhoods of NYC and Long Island, instilled in me a grit and capacity to learn effectively about the world around me. Thank you.
System 4) Community College Systems (and partly public universities in general)
I almost didn't finish high school, due to learning disabilities and undiagnosed ADHD. Community colleges gave me the opportunity to learn in a different way, MY WAY. They recognized my autonomy in some areas, my responsibilities in other ways, and provided EXCELLENT professors to expand my young mind.
People 5) Brown scholars and gurus (particularly Indian traditional music gurus, Sikhs and the individual brahmans who shared their love/knowledge with me)
I have had an odd connection to the Indus river valley civilizations, most of my life, but especially as an adult. I identified as Sikh for awhile in my 20's, and still wear a kara to this day. I studied multi-cultural music and music education with Srinivas Krishnan( a classical Indian musician/guru) while in undergrad. He introduced me to many strangers in southern India , who became mentors instantly. As I write this post, I look up at the tapestry above my desk. A beautiful depiction of sari-clad women carrying water back to the village, that was gifted to me by the grandmother of my god-child, a New Delhi Brahman by caste. My friendship and intellectual growth with her daughter in my 20's, is one of the most impactful friendships of my life. Thank you for the scholarship that grew from the Indus river, and its watering of my own mind.
Also, shoutout to chicana feminist scholarship!!! Thank you for your current saturation of my brain sponge almost daily. 😂
Other groups that impacted me positively are: catholic monk/nun scientists, fourth way traditions, shelter medicine veterinarians, the Iroquois Nation, the Lakota and Navajo, The Blackfoot Nation, Chinua Achebe, William Shakespeare, and many many others. I might add to this list as time passes, and as I allow the varied traditions of this world to impact and shape me. May I stay gracious and be a good steward of these traditions to the next generation. 💜
