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Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller
Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon
Updated:

Talking Volumes: Edwidge Danticat on ‘We’re Alone’

Person with a black background
Haitian-born writer Edwidge Danticat joined host Kerri Miller on stage to talk about her new book of essays, "We're Alone" and kick off the 25th season of Talking Volumes on Tuesday at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.
Tom Campbell | MPR

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It was a celebration at St. Paul’s Fitzgerald Theater Tuesday night, as the 25th season of Talking Volumes launched with Haitian-born writer Edwidge Danticat.

She joined host Kerri Miller on stage to talk about the vulnerability inherent in her new book of essays, “We’re Alone.” They also talked about the challenges facing the Haitian-American community at this moment and how Danticat’s own family — who moved to American when she was 12 — faced the immigrant journey.

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Person with a black background
Haitian-born writer Edwidge Danticat talked about the vulnerability inherent in her new book of essays and the challenges facing the Haitian-American community at this moment.
Tom Campbell | MPR

Speaking of the violent threats facing the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, Danticat said: “It reminds me of a collective fragility, right? One of the things that is very precarious for immigrants, especially new arrived immigrants, is this idea that we don’t always get to decide where we call home. … And it can go generations, where you think, ‘Oh I thought I was home, but this person who has more power thinks this is not my home, and they have the mechanisms to disavow me of that notion.’”

There was plenty of laughter too, including Danticat’s surprising confession about the weirdest thing she’s brought with her on book tour, how she navigates being an author on social media and what it means to her to be a “witnessing writer.” Plus, there was evocative music from Minneapolis musician LAAMAR.

You can still get tickets online for the rest of the 25th season of Talking Volumes, which will feature Alice Hoffman, Louise Erdrich and Kate DiCamillo.