The healing power of reading | Michelle Kuo

How Reading Can Change Our Lives

The Power and Limits of Reading

• The speaker discusses the transformative potential of reading, emphasizing its ability to foster human connection while acknowledging that this connection is often incomplete and solitary.

Personal Journey with James Baldwin

• The speaker reflects on how James Baldwin, an influential African American novelist, filled a void in their life during the 1980s when few Asian American writers were addressing social change.

• Baldwin's words challenged the speaker's understanding of conviction among liberals, particularly highlighting a lack of action when it mattered most.

Experience in the Mississippi Delta

• Motivated by a desire for social change, the speaker moved to the Mississippi Delta—a historically impoverished region—where they aimed to help young people succeed academically.

• They encountered Patrick, a quiet eighth grader who struggled with school attendance due to a tumultuous environment and family circumstances.

Efforts to Engage Patrick

• The speaker took it upon themselves to encourage Patrick to attend school by simply showing up at his home and inviting him.

• This approach proved successful; Patrick began attending school regularly and showed improvement in his academic performance.

Transitioning from Teaching to Law School

• After gaining acceptance into Harvard Law School, the speaker grappled with feelings of loneliness and fatigue but believed they could effect more significant change with a law degree.

• Upon graduating three years later, they learned that Patrick had been involved in a tragic incident resulting in someone's death.

Revisiting Patrick in Jail

• Devastated by the news about Patrick, the speaker visited him in jail where he revealed he had dropped out of school after their departure.

• During this visit, Patrick expressed regret over not being present for his newborn daughter.

Encouraging Expression Through Writing

• Determined to help Patrick reconnect with his identity, the speaker suggested he write letters to his daughter as a means of self-expression.

• Shocked by Patrick's regression in writing skills since their last meeting, the speaker recognized that he felt inadequate and only apologized for past mistakes.

Building Connection Through Literature

• Over seven months, the speaker visited Patrick regularly and brought books as tools for engagement—transforming their tote bag into a makeshift library filled with various authors including Baldwin and Whitman.

Exploring the Power of Reading and Personal Connection

The Impact of Poetry on Personal Reflection

• A poignant line from a poem reflects the idea that grief eases over time, emphasizing a sense of timelessness: "We will be no older than we ever were."

• Patrick associates this line with a place where time stands still, revealing his deep emotional connection to his mother as that timeless space.

• The discussion shifts to reading Frederick Douglass's memoir, which evokes feelings of panic in Patrick, contrasting the uplifting narrative he had previously held.

Confronting Painful Realities Through Literature

• Patrick relates to Douglass's experience of being given gin by masters during Christmas, highlighting how it symbolizes the denial of freedom and painful realities faced by those imprisoned.

• He expresses that thinking about one's condition can be tormenting, echoing Douglass’s sentiment: "Anything, no matter what, to get rid of thinking!"

• Despite feeling panicked by the content, Patrick continues reading Douglass's work, demonstrating resilience similar to Douglass himself.

Writing as an Act of Accountability and Love

• Inspired by Marilynne Robinson's "Gilead," Patrick begins writing letters filled with love and imagination for his daughter.

• The act of writing becomes a way for him to confront past failures and hold himself accountable while expressing deep emotions towards his daughter.

Reflecting on Inequality and Shared Experiences

• The narrator grapples with their privilege compared to Patrick’s struggles, questioning their right to tell his story while acknowledging shared humanity.

• This narrative is not solely about Patrick but also addresses broader societal inequalities that have marginalized individuals like him.

The Transformative Power of Reading

• Reading serves as a bridge between different worlds; it creates shared experiences that foster understanding and intimacy among readers.

• Despite challenges post-incarceration—like discrimination and loss—reading enriches Patrick’s inner life with beauty and imagination.

• It provides him language for loss and courage in facing painful truths; he memorizes lines from Derek Walcott reflecting on days lost or cherished.

Building Connections Through Literature

• Reading encourages critical thinking; despite its difficulties, it empowers individuals like Patrick to confront their realities rather than escape them.

• Engaging with literature fosters equality in relationships; meeting someone as a reader allows for fresh perspectives beyond preconceived notions.