From art to film to music to dance, Brown alumni are reimagining the possibilities of artistic expression and sharing the sources of their creativity.
Danielle Shandiin Emerson ’22.5 has always looked for inspiration in everyday life experiences. Family anecdotes. Songs. Names. Smells. Memories of her upbringing in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. Those reflections are woven into many of her published works, from the short story “Christmas and Ymir” to the poem “shíma yazhí ahéheeʼ / thank you, auntie.”
Growing up, Emerson didn’t often see the intricacies of the Navajo people (or “Diné” as the Navajo people call themselves) reflected in fiction.
“In my own way, I made space and wrote my own stories,” said Emerson, who is the Associates’ of the Boston Public Library’s 2023-24 Writer-in-Residence and the first Native writer in its history.
With the program’s support, Emerson has been developing an anthology of 10 short stories exploring themes of family, culture, tradition, growth, grief, healing, home, community, queerness, and identity. She hopes the stories will create a greater sense of belonging for Native and Indigenous readers.
Historically, the stories of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) have been underrepresented in literature. As more diverse voices emerge, Emerson looks forward to the day when BIPOC authors no longer have to make a case for inclusion.
“The importance of cultural representation isn’t a question,” she said. “Cultural representation matters. Our stories, perspectives, and experiences matter. There doesn’t need to be a ‘because’ after that.”