I once made a great discovery I could wander the streets of Cape Town
I could wander the streets of Cape Town
I could wander the streets of Cape Town while I was sitting at home in my living
while I was sitting at home in my living
while I was sitting at home in my living room here in DC thanks to Google Maps
room here in DC thanks to Google Maps
room here in DC thanks to Google Maps Street View in 2011 I had just come back
Street View in 2011 I had just come back
Street View in 2011 I had just come back from my Fulbright year in South Africa I
from my Fulbright year in South Africa I
from my Fulbright year in South Africa I had led a creative writing Club for
had led a creative writing Club for
had led a creative writing Club for teenage girls there in Cape Town and I
teenage girls there in Cape Town and I
teenage girls there in Cape Town and I was writing a book about them now about
was writing a book about them now about
was writing a book about them now about our time together and their lives
our time together and their lives
our time together and their lives growing up as the first post-apartheid
growing up as the first post-apartheid
growing up as the first post-apartheid generation South Africans called them
generation South Africans called them
generation South Africans called them the born freeze my head was in that
the born freeze my head was in that
the born freeze my head was in that foggy space of reentry after you’ve come
foggy space of reentry after you’ve come
foggy space of reentry after you’ve come home from an amazing journey and you’re
home from an amazing journey and you’re
home from an amazing journey and you’re back in your everyday life and you
back in your everyday life and you
back in your everyday life and you wonder did that really happen I knew
wonder did that really happen I knew
wonder did that really happen I knew that it had because I had a laptop
that it had because I had a laptop
that it had because I had a laptop filled with photographs and a suitcase
filled with photographs and a suitcase
filled with photographs and a suitcase full of notebooks where I tried to take
full of notebooks where I tried to take
full of notebooks where I tried to take down every detail I could every view I
down every detail I could every view I
down every detail I could every view I could see but inevitably there’s always
could see but inevitably there’s always
could see but inevitably there’s always views that you miss one of the things
views that you miss one of the things
views that you miss one of the things that excited me about Google Maps Street
that excited me about Google Maps Street
that excited me about Google Maps Street View was I could recreate my days in
View was I could recreate my days in
View was I could recreate my days in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town I looked up Pinelands the suburb where I
I looked up Pinelands the suburb where I
I looked up Pinelands the suburb where I lived and I went along its leafy quiet
lived and I went along its leafy quiet
lived and I went along its leafy quiet back streets where I learned to drive
back streets where I learned to drive
back streets where I learned to drive stick shift on the left-hand side of the
stick shift on the left-hand side of the
stick shift on the left-hand side of the road I went up in Tyrande basha Belmont
road I went up in Tyrande basha Belmont
road I went up in Tyrande basha Belmont toward the University of Cape Town which
toward the University of Cape Town which
toward the University of Cape Town which is situated up against Table Mountain in
is situated up against Table Mountain in
is situated up against Table Mountain in this incredibly beautiful view and all
this incredibly beautiful view and all
this incredibly beautiful view and all these places were really well marked on
these places were really well marked on
these places were really well marked on the map as you can see here highlighted
the map as you can see here highlighted
the map as you can see here highlighted all the blue those are the streets that
all the blue those are the streets that
all the blue those are the streets that are photographed but the place I wanted
are photographed but the place I wanted
are photographed but the place I wanted to see most was a place called Google a2
to see most was a place called Google a2
to see most was a place called Google a2 that’s where the writing Club took place
that’s where the writing Club took place
that’s where the writing Club took place and where the girls lived goups as
and where the girls lived goups as
and where the girls lived goups as locals call it it’s a Township outside
locals call it it’s a Township outside
locals call it it’s a Township outside Cape Town it’s a place where during
Cape Town it’s a place where during
Cape Town it’s a place where during apartheid black South Africans were
apartheid black South Africans were
apartheid black South Africans were forcibly removed and forced to live
forcibly removed and forced to live
forcibly removed and forced to live there as it was back then it’s a place
there as it was back then it’s a place
there as it was back then it’s a place of poverty but it’s also a place of
of poverty but it’s also a place of
of poverty but it’s also a place of great pride and for the people who live
great pride and for the people who live
great pride and for the people who live there in fact the name itself Google a2
there in fact the name itself Google a2
there in fact the name itself Google a2 means our pride in Plaza that’s the only
means our pride in Plaza that’s the only
means our pride in Plaza that’s the only click I can do in Plaza and when I was
click I can do in Plaza and when I was
click I can do in Plaza and when I was looking up Google a to one of the things
looking up Google a to one of the things
looking up Google a to one of the things I had in mind most of all was one of the
I had in mind most of all was one of the
I had in mind most of all was one of the writers her name’s Anna suena she was
writers her name’s Anna suena she was
writers her name’s Anna suena she was actually one of the first girls that I
actually one of the first girls that I
actually one of the first girls that I met when I got to Cape Town she asked me
met when I got to Cape Town she asked me
met when I got to Cape Town she asked me what I was there to do what I had come
what I was there to do what I had come
what I was there to do what I had come to her country for and so I told her I
to her country for and so I told her I
to her country for and so I told her I said I’m leading this writing Club and I
said I’m leading this writing Club and I
said I’m leading this writing Club and I hope you’ll join us and she stood up
hope you’ll join us and she stood up
hope you’ll join us and she stood up real tall as tall as she could which was
real tall as tall as she could which was
real tall as tall as she could which was maybe 5 feet and she said I’ll be there
maybe 5 feet and she said I’ll be there
maybe 5 feet and she said I’ll be there I’m a poet I thought wow you can just
I’m a poet I thought wow you can just
I’m a poet I thought wow you can just announce this without any hesitation or
announce this without any hesitation or
announce this without any hesitation or doubt and she was 18 I was 40 and I was
doubt and she was 18 I was 40 and I was
doubt and she was 18 I was 40 and I was having trouble calling myself a writer I
having trouble calling myself a writer I
having trouble calling myself a writer I got to know Anna suena really well
got to know Anna suena really well
got to know Anna suena really well during our time together in the writing
during our time together in the writing
during our time together in the writing Club but in many ways outside of it too
Club but in many ways outside of it too
Club but in many ways outside of it too I went with her to the aids clinic to
I went with her to the aids clinic to
I went with her to the aids clinic to pick up her antiretroviral medications
pick up her antiretroviral medications
pick up her antiretroviral medications we shared a lot of chicken sandwich
we shared a lot of chicken sandwich
we shared a lot of chicken sandwich wraps and fries at KFC and gooks from
wraps and fries at KFC and gooks from
wraps and fries at KFC and gooks from our first meal we shared together she
our first meal we shared together she
our first meal we shared together she she used to tease me like a younger
she used to tease me like a younger
she used to tease me like a younger sister would and then I would drive her
sister would and then I would drive her
sister would and then I would drive her home afterwards to the shack where she
home afterwards to the shack where she
home afterwards to the shack where she lived with her aunt and cousins because
lived with her aunt and cousins because
lived with her aunt and cousins because Anna so Anna’s mom had died when she was
Anna so Anna’s mom had died when she was
Anna so Anna’s mom had died when she was 10 so when I was looking on Google Maps
10 so when I was looking on Google Maps
10 so when I was looking on Google Maps what I wanted to do in particular was
what I wanted to do in particular was
what I wanted to do in particular was recreate Google a2 to look up the places
recreate Google a2 to look up the places
recreate Google a2 to look up the places there and especially anise huayna Street
there and especially anise huayna Street
there and especially anise huayna Street because I couldn’t remember if you could
because I couldn’t remember if you could
because I couldn’t remember if you could see table mountain from her streets and
see table mountain from her streets and
see table mountain from her streets and so when I went
so when I went
so when I went Google a2 I found blank space and I
Google a2 I found blank space and I
Google a2 I found blank space and I looked at it I thought that you’d be
looked at it I thought that you’d be
looked at it I thought that you’d be right the only Street that was
right the only Street that was
right the only Street that was photographed is the main drag that runs
photographed is the main drag that runs
photographed is the main drag that runs down through it and y1 and Y stands for
down through it and y1 and Y stands for
down through it and y1 and Y stands for native yards it was named this during
native yards it was named this during
native yards it was named this during apartheid as the place where black South
apartheid as the place where black South
apartheid as the place where black South Africans were forced to live it’s only
Africans were forced to live it’s only
Africans were forced to live it’s only recently been renamed Steve Biko Drive
recently been renamed Steve Biko Drive
recently been renamed Steve Biko Drive in honor of the South African
in honor of the South African
in honor of the South African anti-apartheid activist who was killed
anti-apartheid activist who was killed
anti-apartheid activist who was killed by police looking around at this – you
by police looking around at this – you
by police looking around at this – you can see there’s other townships nearby
can see there’s other townships nearby
can see there’s other townships nearby there’s mianga and crossroads and
there’s mianga and crossroads and
there’s mianga and crossroads and kyliyah and all those places were left
kyliyah and all those places were left
kyliyah and all those places were left unhighlight it as well and looking at
unhighlight it as well and looking at
unhighlight it as well and looking at this I thought if if you don’t know Cape
this I thought if if you don’t know Cape
this I thought if if you don’t know Cape Town and you come across this you’d
Town and you come across this you’d
Town and you come across this you’d think that there was nothing or no one
think that there was nothing or no one
think that there was nothing or no one there but there was I knew that I had
there but there was I knew that I had
there but there was I knew that I had been to this place I bend in these
been to this place I bend in these
been to this place I bend in these townships and I knew that they overflow
townships and I knew that they overflow
townships and I knew that they overflow with life and energy and sound and music
with life and energy and sound and music
with life and energy and sound and music when I think of Google a – I can hear
when I think of Google a – I can hear
when I think of Google a – I can hear the children in their school uniforms
the children in their school uniforms
the children in their school uniforms running down the street calling out to
running down the street calling out to
running down the street calling out to their friends I know on a warm day
their friends I know on a warm day
their friends I know on a warm day Google a – always smells like grilled
Google a – always smells like grilled
Google a – always smells like grilled meat because everyone’s out having a Bry
meat because everyone’s out having a Bry
meat because everyone’s out having a Bry which is a beloved South African
which is a beloved South African
which is a beloved South African barbecue I can almost feel the sand and
barbecue I can almost feel the sand and
barbecue I can almost feel the sand and the dust that swirls up in those fierce
the dust that swirls up in those fierce
the dust that swirls up in those fierce Cape Town winds and sticks to everything
Cape Town winds and sticks to everything
Cape Town winds and sticks to everything including you but you wouldn’t know all
including you but you wouldn’t know all
including you but you wouldn’t know all of that from these places here and so I
of that from these places here and so I
of that from these places here and so I began to wonder when we’re faced with
began to wonder when we’re faced with
began to wonder when we’re faced with blank spaces how often do we ask what
blank spaces how often do we ask what
blank spaces how often do we ask what we’re missing
we’re missing
we’re missing what views haven’t been shown what
what views haven’t been shown what
what views haven’t been shown what voices go unheard how often does our
voices go unheard how often does our
voices go unheard how often does our curiosity fail us I went into Google a –
curiosity fail us I went into Google a –
curiosity fail us I went into Google a – because I wanted to form this creative
because I wanted to form this creative
because I wanted to form this creative writing Club I wanted to help girls find
writing Club I wanted to help girls find
writing Club I wanted to help girls find their voices claim their voices and
their voices claim their voices and
their voices claim their voices and claim themselves as writers long before
claim themselves as writers long before
claim themselves as writers long before I could do that
I could do that
I could do that some of the girls like Anna suena had
some of the girls like Anna suena had
some of the girls like Anna suena had no problem speaking out from the very
no problem speaking out from the very
no problem speaking out from the very beginning other girls like I think of
beginning other girls like I think of
beginning other girls like I think of one named Tom bee she hated the sound of
one named Tom bee she hated the sound of
one named Tom bee she hated the sound of her own voice hated to talk but as we
her own voice hated to talk but as we
her own voice hated to talk but as we got to know one another as we exchanged
got to know one another as we exchanged
got to know one another as we exchanged our stories these girls to a girl found
our stories these girls to a girl found
our stories these girls to a girl found out that she had a lot to say and all I
out that she had a lot to say and all I
out that she had a lot to say and all I had to do was go in and give them the
had to do was go in and give them the
had to do was go in and give them the writing prompts and say just tell me
writing prompts and say just tell me
writing prompts and say just tell me what you think curiosity that’s all it
what you think curiosity that’s all it
what you think curiosity that’s all it took so when I came time to write my own
took so when I came time to write my own
took so when I came time to write my own book I couldn’t rely on Google a2
book I couldn’t rely on Google a2
book I couldn’t rely on Google a2 instead I went back to my photographs
instead I went back to my photographs
instead I went back to my photographs that I had taken of gooks and remembered
that I had taken of gooks and remembered
that I had taken of gooks and remembered the places and the people that I got to
the places and the people that I got to
the places and the people that I got to meet there when we miss out on the blank
meet there when we miss out on the blank
meet there when we miss out on the blank spaces we don’t know what we’re missing
spaces we don’t know what we’re missing
spaces we don’t know what we’re missing and we don’t know what else is out there
and we don’t know what else is out there
and we don’t know what else is out there and the things that we might find can
and the things that we might find can
and the things that we might find can surprise us a lots been said this year
surprise us a lots been said this year
surprise us a lots been said this year about the bubbles that we all live in
about the bubbles that we all live in
about the bubbles that we all live in here in this country political
here in this country political
here in this country political Geographic economic racial curiosity can
Geographic economic racial curiosity can
Geographic economic racial curiosity can pop those bubbles but first we have to
pop those bubbles but first we have to
pop those bubbles but first we have to hone our curiosity we have to reach in
hone our curiosity we have to reach in
hone our curiosity we have to reach in and ask the stories and find out where
and ask the stories and find out where
and ask the stories and find out where the blank spaces are and what’s missing
the blank spaces are and what’s missing
the blank spaces are and what’s missing the Nigerian writer Ben o Kree said
the Nigerian writer Ben o Kree said
the Nigerian writer Ben o Kree said stories can conquer fear you know they
stories can conquer fear you know they
stories can conquer fear you know they can make the heart bigger anise wayna
can make the heart bigger anise wayna
can make the heart bigger anise wayna overflowed with stories
overflowed with stories
overflowed with stories this girl was a walking monologue but we
this girl was a walking monologue but we
this girl was a walking monologue but we reached a point where I didn’t even have
reached a point where I didn’t even have
reached a point where I didn’t even have to ask her questions she just talked she
to ask her questions she just talked she
to ask her questions she just talked she had things to say and she had someone to
had things to say and she had someone to
had things to say and she had someone to listen to her and that was all it took
listen to her and that was all it took
listen to her and that was all it took she told me that her mother had been a
she told me that her mother had been a
she told me that her mother had been a famous singer there in South Africa and
famous singer there in South Africa and
famous singer there in South Africa and she was I googled her her name’s Anna
she was I googled her her name’s Anna
she was I googled her her name’s Anna lean her name was Anna lean malabo she
lean her name was Anna lean malabo she
lean her name was Anna lean malabo she was the lead singer of an all-girl band
was the lead singer of an all-girl band
was the lead singer of an all-girl band called joy basically she was the Diana
called joy basically she was the Diana
called joy basically she was the Diana Ross of South Africa joy was a was the
Ross of South Africa joy was a was the
Ross of South Africa joy was a was the first
first
first black pop band to have a number one hit
black pop band to have a number one hit
black pop band to have a number one hit in on the all-white charts in 1980 later
in on the all-white charts in 1980 later
in on the all-white charts in 1980 later on ana lien malabo became the first
on ana lien malabo became the first
on ana lien malabo became the first South African celebrity to publicly
South African celebrity to publicly
South African celebrity to publicly announce that she was HIV positive in
announce that she was HIV positive in
announce that she was HIV positive in 2002 when she died
2002 when she died
2002 when she died Nelson Mandela released a statement
Nelson Mandela released a statement
Nelson Mandela released a statement comforting her children and calling for
comforting her children and calling for
comforting her children and calling for anti retrovirals to be made available
anti retrovirals to be made available
anti retrovirals to be made available and affordable so that fewer children
and affordable so that fewer children
and affordable so that fewer children were orphaned ana lien had wanted to
were orphaned ana lien had wanted to
were orphaned ana lien had wanted to keep the money that she had saved for
keep the money that she had saved for
keep the money that she had saved for her children in the event of her death
her children in the event of her death
her children in the event of her death she didn’t want to spend it on the
she didn’t want to spend it on the
she didn’t want to spend it on the expensive medications so by the time she
expensive medications so by the time she
expensive medications so by the time she started on them it was too late I
started on them it was too late I
started on them it was too late I learned some of the ways that her death
learned some of the ways that her death
learned some of the ways that her death affected ana suena her daughter after
affected ana suena her daughter after
affected ana suena her daughter after her mom died she was moved around from
her mom died she was moved around from
her mom died she was moved around from place to place
place to place
place to place family family friends house to Shack
family family friends house to Shack
family family friends house to Shack Township to Township I learned that this
Township to Township I learned that this
Township to Township I learned that this instability contributed to her struggles
instability contributed to her struggles
instability contributed to her struggles in school and now when I met her she was
in school and now when I met her she was
in school and now when I met her she was 18 and she was three years behind trying
18 and she was three years behind trying
18 and she was three years behind trying to re-enter a grade 9
to re-enter a grade 9
to re-enter a grade 9 but I learned other things about her too
but I learned other things about her too
but I learned other things about her too I learned that she will sing along to
I learned that she will sing along to
I learned that she will sing along to any song that comes on the radio whether
any song that comes on the radio whether
any song that comes on the radio whether she knows it or not I learned that she
she knows it or not I learned that she
she knows it or not I learned that she loves avocados and her laugh which was
loves avocados and her laugh which was
loves avocados and her laugh which was really more of a snicker always reminded
really more of a snicker always reminded
really more of a snicker always reminded me of Ernie’s on Sesame Street I always
me of Ernie’s on Sesame Street I always
me of Ernie’s on Sesame Street I always got the feeling when I listened to her
got the feeling when I listened to her
got the feeling when I listened to her that it had been a long time since
that it had been a long time since
that it had been a long time since anyone had shown curiosity about Ana
anyone had shown curiosity about Ana
anyone had shown curiosity about Ana Suenos life when we don’t ask the
Suenos life when we don’t ask the
Suenos life when we don’t ask the stories ask the questions to get at the
stories ask the questions to get at the
stories ask the questions to get at the stories that are missing one of the most
stories that are missing one of the most
stories that are missing one of the most important things we miss out on I think
important things we miss out on I think
important things we miss out on I think are the places where our stories
are the places where our stories
are the places where our stories intersect when I first met her Ana’s
intersect when I first met her Ana’s
intersect when I first met her Ana’s suena told me early on that she herself
suena told me early on that she herself
suena told me early on that she herself was infected with HIV when she was raped
was infected with HIV when she was raped
was infected with HIV when she was raped by her uncle when she was 8
about a year after that conversation she
about a year after that conversation she told me when the subject came up again
told me when the subject came up again
told me when the subject came up again she said an aunt had told her that the
she said an aunt had told her that the
she said an aunt had told her that the abuse was her own thought I remembered
abuse was her own thought I remembered
abuse was her own thought I remembered this day it was one of my last days
this day it was one of my last days
this day it was one of my last days living in South Africa before I was
living in South Africa before I was
living in South Africa before I was coming back to DC and it was a perfect
coming back to DC and it was a perfect
coming back to DC and it was a perfect December summer day and we were driving
December summer day and we were driving
December summer day and we were driving along out the coast toward the Cape of
along out the coast toward the Cape of
along out the coast toward the Cape of Good Hope and she told me this and this
Good Hope and she told me this and this
Good Hope and she told me this and this comment from her aunt so outraged me
comment from her aunt so outraged me
comment from her aunt so outraged me that I almost couldn’t see clearly to
that I almost couldn’t see clearly to
that I almost couldn’t see clearly to drive the car and then I did something
drive the car and then I did something
drive the car and then I did something that I didn’t expect I would do
that I didn’t expect I would do
that I didn’t expect I would do I told Anna suena that my own uncle had
I told Anna suena that my own uncle had
I told Anna suena that my own uncle had molested me when I was 8 I told her that
molested me when I was 8 I told her that
molested me when I was 8 I told her that my parents told me it wasn’t my fault
my parents told me it wasn’t my fault
my parents told me it wasn’t my fault but we never could talk about it so I
but we never could talk about it so I
but we never could talk about it so I had spent years of my life thinking that
had spent years of my life thinking that
had spent years of my life thinking that it was and I really didn’t want her to
it was and I really didn’t want her to
it was and I really didn’t want her to think that about herself but Anna suena
think that about herself but Anna suena
think that about herself but Anna suena didn’t she said sure I know I’m not to
didn’t she said sure I know I’m not to
didn’t she said sure I know I’m not to blame and all I could do was laugh at
blame and all I could do was laugh at
blame and all I could do was laugh at the sheer moxie of this girl stories do
the sheer moxie of this girl stories do
the sheer moxie of this girl stories do conquer fear they do make the heart
conquer fear they do make the heart
conquer fear they do make the heart bigger and I believe they make the world
bigger and I believe they make the world
bigger and I believe they make the world smaller and closer Anna suena told me
smaller and closer Anna suena told me
smaller and closer Anna suena told me her story and I told her mine and our
her story and I told her mine and our
her story and I told her mine and our stories intersect with millions of
stories intersect with millions of
stories intersect with millions of others because worldwide one in five
others because worldwide one in five
others because worldwide one in five women reports she was sexually abused as
women reports she was sexually abused as
women reports she was sexually abused as a child and many more never report it
a child and many more never report it
a child and many more never report it statistically that has to include women
statistically that has to include women
statistically that has to include women listening to this talk
this girl from Google a – she was a poet
this girl from Google a – she was a poet long before I ever went to her community
long before I ever went to her community
long before I ever went to her community to lead a riding club she taught me how
to lead a riding club she taught me how
to lead a riding club she taught me how to tell my own story and how to be brave
to tell my own story and how to be brave
to tell my own story and how to be brave enough to do it so Google Maps couldn’t
enough to do it so Google Maps couldn’t
enough to do it so Google Maps couldn’t show me a picture from Anna suena Street
show me a picture from Anna suena Street
show me a picture from Anna suena Street but on a visit back there in 2014 I took
but on a visit back there in 2014 I took
but on a visit back there in 2014 I took a better one of my own I want to leave
a better one of my own I want to leave
a better one of my own I want to leave you with the challenge seek out the
you with the challenge seek out the
you with the challenge seek out the places on the maps that are left blank
places on the maps that are left blank
places on the maps that are left blank look for those empty spaces and the
look for those empty spaces and the
look for those empty spaces and the voices that aren’t heard from and ask
voices that aren’t heard from and ask
voices that aren’t heard from and ask why you don’t even have to go halfway
why you don’t even have to go halfway
why you don’t even have to go halfway around the world to do this you can do
around the world to do this you can do
around the world to do this you can do it in your own country your community
it in your own country your community
it in your own country your community your family your bubble you can do it in
your family your bubble you can do it in
your family your bubble you can do it in your own life even with the stories that
your own life even with the stories that
your own life even with the stories that you thought you could never tell because
you thought you could never tell because
you thought you could never tell because I believe that the intersection of all
I believe that the intersection of all
I believe that the intersection of all of our stories forms one curious
of our stories forms one curious
of our stories forms one curious beautiful picture thank you
beautiful picture thank you
beautiful picture thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
Be First to Comment