Changing Our Own Words

Writing by and about black women - an activity once regarded as marginal - has become essential to any consideration of the role of literature in society. Black women's writing raises issues of race, class, and gender, and questions the formation of the literary canon, the creation and maintenance of tradition, and the role of the media in controlling perceptions of what matters.

Written by a diverse group of younger women religious from North America, In Our Own Words offers a collection of essays on issues central to apostolic religious life today. The thirteen authors represent different congregations, charisms, ministries, and histories. The topics and concerns that shape these chapters emerged naturally through a collaborative process of prayer and conversation. Essays focus on the vows and community life, individual identity and congregational charisms, and leadership among younger members leading into the future. The authors hope these chapters may form a springboard for further conversation on religious life, inviting others to share their experiences of religious life in today’s world.

When Georgia Southern College in the small town of Statesboro opened its doors to its first six colored students in 1965, it did so without much of the very public outcry faced at other schools and colleges as part of desegregation. These six pioneers share their personal memories of integrating the college, which opened doors for those who would follow. In 2014, more than 5,400 African American students enrolled at the school, now known as Georgia Southern University (GSU). The essays of those initial pioneers—as well as those by fifteen other alums through the Class of 1985—demonstrate the perseverance of the human spirit and illustrate how social change can be achieved by boldly confronting difficult and frightening situations to bring about lasting reform. Their stories of integration at the southern school tell of emotional ordeals, some of which led to lasting scars and times of defeat. Life wasn’t easy if you were black on a predominantly white college campus. But in the midst of despair comes triumph. In Our Own Words also shares the determination and dedication of those early students, most of whom went on to successful careers and personal accomplishments. This powerful collection of essays that needed to be written showcases a group of students who never dreamed they would one-day help shape the college’s history and leave a legacy that would allow others to follow in their footsteps.

Presents a collection of oratory including sermons, speeches, courtroom arguments, radio broadcasts, eulogies, and commencement addresses.

'I proudly wear my badge as a Covid-19 front-line hero. I believe I was meant to be where I am during these trying times.' Our nurses have witnessed the pandemic first hand, compassionately caring for patients amid war-like circumstances. The havoc caused by the pandemic highlighted existing fault lines in the South African health system, and nurses faced shortages of staff and vital life-saving equipment. Colleagues tested positive and died. Visitors were not allowed, so nurses had to be intermediaries between patients and desperate family trying to glean information on the phone. Despite these pressures, they remained at the forefront of the fight against the deadly virus. This book brings together deeply personal stories of caring for patients in wards and ICU, of feeling overwhelmed, and experiencing the fear of getting infected and passing Covid on to their families. There are also moving tales of personal growth and finding renewed purpose. In Our Own Words shows the extreme resilience of nurses – even in the face of adversity. And that at the core of a 'true' nurse remains the commitment to the patient. 'A powerful and moving account from the coalface of the Covid-19 response – this is a must read!' – Salim Abdool Karim

This collection of new interviews with twenty-five accomplished female composers substantially advances our knowledge of the work, experiences, compositional approaches, and musical intentions of a diverse group of creative individuals. With personal anecdotes and sometimes surprising intimacy and humor, these wide-ranging conversations represent the diversity of women composing music in the United States from the mid-twentieth century into the twenty-first. The composers work in a variety of genres including classical, jazz, multimedia, or collaborative forms for the stage, film, and video games. Their interviews illuminate questions about the status of women composers in America, the role of women in musical performance and education, the creative process and inspiration, the experiences and qualities that contemporary composers bring to their craft, and balancing creative and personal lives. Candidly sharing their experiences, advice, and views, these vibrant, thoughtful, and creative women open new perspectives on the prospects and possibilities of making music in a changing world.

In Our Own Words takes the unique approach of using student writing as a resource for writing instruction and idea development. The defining characteristic of this unique high-intermediate to advanced writing text is the use of non-native student writing to teach writing. This feature makes the text easily accessible to and popular with students. The third edition features 15 new readings by student writers, five new readings by professional writers, updated writing topics, Internet activities to support the writing process, and contextualized revising and editing activities.