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‘Bad Feminist’ Roxane Gay brings going low to new heights

There are many things to know about Roxane Gay. She grew up in Nebraska. Her family is of Haitian descent. She came to critical attention in 2014 for her best-selling collection of essays “Bad Feminist.” She teaches creative writing at Purdue University. She is the first black woman hired to write a Marvel Comics series, “Wakanda.” She kind of owns Twitter. But perhaps the most crucial thing you need to know about Roxane Gay is that she is awed by and in love with her craft, fiction writing especially, in difficult and delightful ways.

Roxane Gay spoke at a Seattle Arts & Lectures “Women You Need to Know” event at Town Hall Seattle on February 22. She read from her collection, “Difficult Women,” and from her essay about the election of Donald Trump, “The Age of American Disgrace.” Gay then joined Seattle writer Ijeoma Oluo in conversation.

Sonya Harris recorded the event. Writers in the Schools student Jade Knight read her poem, “An Artist Instructed,” to open the program.

Please note: This recording contains unedited language of an adult nature.

Listen to the full version below:

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