Article Club

Hi there, Article Clubbers! This month, we’re reading, annotating, and discussing “Good Mother: Custody and Care in the Shodow of Colonization,” by Sierra Crane Murdoch.

A few weeks ago, Sarai and I got the chance to interview Ms. Murdoch. It was a great conversation. We talked about a range of topics: how it felt to be a Pulitzer Prize finalist, how this article came to be, how she felt to receive the questionnaire, how she approached this piece as a white writer, and of course, what it means to be a good mother.

Even if you’re not joining our discussion this Sunday, I recommend reading the article (one of my favorites of 2021) and listening to Ms. Murdoch speak intimately and transparently about her process.

I want to appreciate Ms. Murdoch for generously sharing her time and thoughtfulness with us. Thank you!

After listening to the interview, feel free to add your thoughts in the comments. What’s one insight that resonated with you? What’s a question you were left with?

And if you’re joining the discussion this Sunday, I look forward to seeing you there. In addition to participating in the conversation, you’ll have a chance to win Ms. Murdoch’s book!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

And we’re back! Welcome everyone to the third year of Article Club. I’m really happy that you’re here, and I encourage you to join this month’s discussion.

That’s because this month’s article is awesome. I’m pleased to announce that we’ll be reading “Good Mother,” by Sierra Crane Murdoch. It was one of my favorite articles last year.

Here’s the blurb I wrote about it for The Highlighter:

Lissa Yellow Bird wants to become a foster parent. But the county social services department in North Dakota isn’t so sure. So they send a questionnaire to journalist Sierra Crane Murdoch, asking for her thoughts.

In this touching, beautifully written essay, Ms. Murdoch reflects on what it means to be a good mother in the shadow of colonization. She traces how the United States government decimated American Indian motherhood by separating families, forcing children to attend boarding schools, and sterilizing women – all the way until the mid-1970s.

And here’s an excerpt from the piece:

Mothering was the only conceivable role in society for a Native woman, and yet motherhood was at odds with indigeneity. To become a citizen, a woman had to become a mother; to become a mother, she had to become less Indian. In the Yellow Bird family, the antidote to intergenerational trauma is intergenerational love, the piling on of relatives. When a mother falls short, the solution is not to take the child away from the mother, but to give the child more mothers and fathers.

Sierra Crane Murdoch is a journalist and essayist whose work concerns, primarily, communities in the American West. Her book, Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Named one of the best books of 2020 by The New York Times, NPR, and Publisher’s Weekly, it was also nominated for the Edgar Award, won an Oregon Book Award, and is being developed as a TV series for Paramount+. Ms. Murdoch’s writing has appeared on This American Life and in Harper’s, VQR, The New Yorker online, Orion, The Atlantic, and High Country News.

Whether or not you’re a mother, whether or not you’re a parent, I encourage you to read this article, even if you’re not able to participate in the discussion. It’s brilliantly structured, sensitively written, and deeply thought-provoking.

I hope you’ll join me and fellow Article Clubbers in discussing the piece on Sunday, January 30, 2:00 - 3:30 pm PT! This event will be on Zoom and be limited to 24 participants.

Are you IN?

I hope so! If so, here’s what to do:

* Announce the good news by leaving a comment below. Click on the green button. In a sentence or two, say hi and share why you’re interested.

* Sign up for the discussion by clicking here.This will save your spot and tell me you’re committed to joining.

* Start reading the article.Here’s the original, and here’s a shared version we can annotate together.

Coming up this month at Article Club

* This week: We’ll sign up for the discussion and start reading the article.

* Next week: We’ll go deeper, annotating the article, sharing our first impressions, and “meeting” Ms. Murdoch.

* The week of January 24: We’ll listen to an interview with Ms. Murdoch.

* Sunday, January 30: We’ll discuss the article with fellow Article Clubbers.

Are you new to Article Club? If so, welcome! We look forward to meeting you and having your voice in the conversation. Feel free to reach out with questions: [email protected].

Thank you for reading Article Club. This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

Hi there, Article Clubbers! This month, we’re reading, annotating, and discussing “My Father Vanished When I Was 7. The Mystery Made Me Who I Am,” by Nicholas Casey.

A few weeks ago, I got to interview Mr. Casey with fellow Article Clubber Lauri. It was a great conversation. He talked about how he came to write this piece and about how writing his own story was different from his regular work as a journalist. Mr. Casey also talked about his father, the concepts of melancholy and wanderlust, and the age-old nature vs. nurture question.

Most of all, I want to appreciate Mr. Casey for generously sharing his time and thoughtfulness with us. Also, to Lauri: Thank you for nominating this article for Readers’ Choice Month and for collaborating closely on this podcast episode.

After listening to the interview, feel free to add your thoughts in the comments. And if you’re participating in the discussion, see you this Sunday!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

Welcome to November! I’m excited to announce that it’s our first-ever Readers’ Choice Month. This month, we’ll be reading and discussing “My Father Vanished When I Was 7. The Mystery Made Me Who I Am.” by Nicholas Casey. Thank you to everyone who nominated an article, and congratulations to Lauri for being the winner!

Originally published in The New York Times Magazine in June, the piece chronicles Mr. Casey’s long search for his father and explores issues of identity and connection. Where do we come from? What makes us the way we are?

Here’s an excerpt from the piece:

I spent much of my life imagining who I was — and then becoming that person — through vague clues about who my father was. Part of me still likes to believe we each determine who we are by the decisions we make and the lives we choose to live. But what if we don’t? Now I often wonder whether this long journey that has led me to so many corners of the world wasn’t because I was searching for him, but because I am him.

Nicholas Casey is the Madrid bureau chief at The New York Times, covering Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Over the last decade he was stationed in Colombia, Venezuela, Israel, Mexico, and the United States, where he covered the 2020 election. In 2016, he won the George Polk for his work in Venezuela. Mr. Casey’s reporting has also won the New York Press Club Award, the Clarion Award, and honorable mention from the Society of Publishers in Asia.

I hope you’ll join me and fellow Article Clubbers in discussing this article on Sunday, November 21, 2:00 - 3:30 pm PT! This event will be on Zoom and be limited to 24 participants.

Are you IN? I hope so. If so, here’s what to do:

* Sign up for the discussion.

* Leave a comment below. Say hi and share why you’re interested in this month’s article.

* Start reading the article. Here’s the original, and here’s a shared version we can annotate together.

Coming up this month at Article Club

* This week: We’ll sign up for the discussion and start reading the article.

* Next week: We’ll annotate the article with fellow Article Clubbers.

* The week of November 15: We’ll listen to an interview with Mr. Casey.

* Sunday, November 21: We’ll discuss the article with fellow Article Clubbers.

Are you new to Article Club? If so, welcome! We look forward to meeting you and having your voice in the conversation. Feel free to reach out with questions: [email protected].

Article Club is a community of thoughtful people who read, annotate, and discuss one great article every month on race, education, or culture. Everyone is welcome. The author participates, too. Article Club is part of The Highlighter, a weekly newsletter featuring the best articles on race, education, and culture.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

Hi there, Article Clubbers! This month, we’re reading, annotating, and discussing “The Key,” by Brian Broome.

Mr. Broome is one of my favorite writers. We last spoke more than two years ago, after he published “79,” one of the best pieces in Highlighter history. It was an honor to interview him again. He’s the first returning guest to the podcast!

I hope you’ll listen to the interview. It’s a good one – because Mr. Broome is thoughtful and doesn’t hold back. We talk about sexuality, racism, “good white people,” Bertrand’s ridiculousness, sports and locker rooms, the gaze of Black boys, inner hatred and inner acceptance, coming out, and how white supremacy limits possible constructions of masculinity.

Most of all, I want to appreciate Mr. Broome for generously sharing his time and thoughtfulness with us. Also, I highly recommend Punch Me Up to the Gods. I’ll be raffling off a copy this Sunday, so good luck!

After listening to the interview, please share your thoughts in the comments. What resonated with you?

Article Club is a thoughtful reading community and an experiment in community reading. Every month, we read, annotate, and discuss one great article, and the author participates, too! If you’re interested, sign up and check us out. Article Club is part of The Highlighter, a weekly newsletter featuring the best articles on race, education, and culture.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

Our 20th Article Club discussion is in the books! We read and annotated Tyrone Fleurizard’s “How to Name Your Black Son in a Racist Country” and participated in three thoughtful conversations. Thank you!

Thank you to Summer, Peter, Jennifer, Elise, Molly, Lauri, Shreya, Wes, Sarai, Telannia, Daniel, Philippe, Tamyra, Susan, Abde, and David for joining the discussion. I’m very grateful.

Also, I deeply appreciate Summer, Elise, and Sarai for facilitating groups. Also, a big welcome to Susan, David, and Abde. Hope you felt comfortable and had a good time!

Reflections and celebrations are open:What did you take away from the discussion?What did you appreciate?How can we make things even better next time?

Here are a few of my reflections and questions. (Feel free to share your thoughts!)

* Every discussion is unique. But should there be some commonalities in flow? What makes an Article Club discussion special?

* Discussion groups matter, too. Should groupings be random, or should you get to choose them? What are the benefits of affinity spaces vs. mixed groups?

* Article Club is better when everyone who signs up shows up. What are ways that I can encourage new and existing participants to the conversation?

See you next week! That’s when I’ll reveal October’s article. If you want to plan ahead, our discussion will be on Sunday, October 24, 2:00 - 3:30 pm PT. The author plans to join us, too.

And if you like Article Club, please share it with a friend!

Article Club is a thoughtful reading community and an experiment in community reading. Every month, we read, annotate, and discuss one great article, and the author participates, too! If you’re interested, sign up and check us out. Article Club is part of The Highlighter, a weekly newsletter featuring the best articles on race, education, and culture.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

Hi there, Article Clubbers! This month, we’re reading, annotating, and discussing “How to Name Your Black Son in a Racist Country,” by Tyrone Fleurizard.

A couple weeks ago, Article Clubber Sarai and I got the chance to talk with Mr. Fleurizard and ask him some of our questions. It was a fun, deep conversation. We talked about a range of topics, including why he writes and how Jerald Walker’s “How to Make a Slave” inspired the piece. In addition, Mr. Fleurizard shares his thoughts about naming, religion, his relationship with his father, and the immigration industrial complex.

I hope you will take a listen.

Most of all, I want to appreciate Mr. Fleurizard for generously sharing his time and thoughtfulness with us.

After listening to the interview, please share your thoughts in the comments. What resonated with you? What surprised you?

Article Club is a thoughtful reading community and an experiment in community reading. Every month, we read, annotate, and discuss one great article, and the author participates, too! If you’re interested, sign up and check us out. Article Club is part of The Highlighter, a weekly newsletter featuring the best articles on race, education, and culture.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

Before we start: Welcome, new subscribers! (There are about 100 of you.) Thank you for signing up for Article Club. I hope you feel right at home. OK, let’s get to it.

Our 19th Article Club discussion is in the books! We read and annotated Jamie Figueroa’s “The Stories I Haven’t Been Told” and participated in a deep, thoughtful conversation.

But that’s not all. A few weeks ago, Ms. Figueroa generously agreed to answer our questions in a podcast interview. I let a few of you know about this, and the response was electric! Several of you wanted in. So for the first time ever, it’s not just me and Sarai asking the questions. Please welcome Article Clubbers Elizabeth and Jessica to the show; their contributions made the discussion even better.

I hope you will take a listen. Ms. Figueroa spoke deeply on a range of topics, including the writing process, the power of our voice, our relationship with family and culture, and the longing to connect and belong in community.

Most of all: I want to appreciate Ms. Figueroa for sharing her time with us.

After listening to the interview, please share your thoughts in the comments. What resonated with you? What surprised you?

Thank you again — I’ll be back very soon to reveal September’s article, so be on the lookout for an email in your inbox in the next few days. Have a great week.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

Welcome to August! I’m excited to announce that this month’s article is “The Stories I Haven’t Been Told,” by Jamie Figueroa. You’re going to appreciate this article, because of its beautiful language, direct authenticity, and deep themes.

Here’s my blurb of the piece, which I featured in Issue #286 of The Highlighter:

Jamie Figueroa fills up cheap spiral-bound notebooks with words to explore where she comes from, who she is, and why she’s here. In this complex, powerful essay, Ms. Figueroa organizes those thoughts into a gripping narrative that reveals what she knows (and doesn’t know) about her Puerto Rican family’s history. Her process reveals deep truths about generational trauma, the effects of assimilation, the legacy of family, the shape-shifting of memory, and the power of writing.

Ms. Figueroa writes, “I come from women who were held down. Women who left their children and took in others. I come from women who fought back, who wielded knives, who shot guns. Wounded, wounding. Healed, healing. I come from Taíno women and Yoruba women. Black-skinned and brown-skinned women. I come from women who can lie so good, they can convince even themselves. Women who were remade, unrecognizable. Women who have started over too many times to count. I come from women who were deterred from their own wild knowing. Women who survived.” (27 min)

Ms. Figueroa is Boricua (Afro-Taíno) by way of Ohio and long-time resident of northern New Mexico. Her writing has appeared in McSweeney’s, American Short Fiction, Agni and Emergence Magazine among other journals. Jamie received her MFA in Creative Writing from The Institute of American Indian Arts where she is now an assistant professor. Recipient of the Truman Capote award, and the Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Arts award, she was also chosen as a Bread Loaf, Rona Jaffe Scholar, and is a VONA alum. Brother, Sister, Mother, Explorer (Catapult) is her debut novel. 

I hope you’ll join me and fellow Article Clubbers in discussing this article on Sunday, August 22, 2:00 - 3:15 pm PT! This event will be on Zoom, open to the public, and limited to 28 participants.

Are you IN? I hope so. If so, here’s what to do:

* Sign up for the discussion.

* Leave a comment here. Click the button below, say hi, and share what drew you in.

* Start reading! Highly encouraged: Let’s annotate this copy of the article together.

Coming up this month at Article Club

* This week: We’ll sign up for the discussion and start reading the article.

* Next week: We’ll annotate the article with fellow Article Clubbers.

* The week of August 16 : We’ll listen to an interview with Ms. Figueroa.

* Sunday, August 22: We’ll discuss the article with fellow Article Clubbers.

Are you new to Article Club? If so, welcome! We look forward to meeting you and having your voice in the conversation. Feel free to reach out with questions: [email protected].

Article Club is a community of thoughtful people who read, annotate, and discuss one great article every month on race, education, or culture. Everyone is welcome. The author participates, too. Article Club is part of The Highlighter, a weekly newsletter featuring the best articles on race, education, and culture.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com

Hey Article Clubbers! Hope your July is going well.

This month, we’re discussing “Private Schools Are Indefensible,” by Caitlin Flanagan. It’s about the excesses of fancy independent schools.

I hope you’ll join our discussion on Sunday, July 25, 2:00 - 3:15 pm PT. You can sign up here or find out more here.

Today I have a bonus for you: a recording of the piece, thanks to loyal reader Nancy. Even if you prefer reading in print, you’ll enjoy this audio version. I found that I got deeper into the article. Hope you enjoy it. If you do, please leave a comment to thank Nancy (and Jennifer, who has read articles in previous months).

Coming up this month at Article Club

* Next week: We’ll annotate the article with fellow Article Clubbers.

* The week of July 19: We’ll share our first impressions about the article.

* Sunday, July 25: We’ll discuss the article with fellow Article Clubbers.

Are you new to Article Club? If so, welcome! We look forward to meeting you and having your voice in the conversation. Feel free to reach out with questions: [email protected].

Article Club is an experiment in community reading. We read, annotate, and discuss one outstanding article or book chapter a month. We invite the author to join our conversation, too. If you’re interested, sign up and check us out! Article Club is part of The Highlighter, a weekly newsletter featuring the best articles on race, education, and culture.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit articleclub.substack.com