Exploring Identity, Belonging and Resilience with UC San Diego’s Common Read
Author, cultural critic and university professor Roxane Gay visited Epstein Family Amphitheater as part of UC San Diego's Common Read program.
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At the University of California San Diego, diverse identities shape our campus and enrich our community—a shared experience that inspired the university's inaugural Common Read selection, American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures.
Edited by actress and activist America Ferrera, American Like Me is a collection of essays that shares the experiences of people navigating multiple cultural identities and intersecting experiences. The Common Read program aims to foster a sense of shared belonging and connection, providing the book free of charge to the entire campus community.
To further the discussion prompted by the Common Read, UC San Diego welcomed author, university professor and cultural critic Roxane Gay to Epstein Family Amphitheater on Nov. 4, 2024, for an engaging conversation on identity, belonging and resilience. Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Becky R. Petitt, a national thought leader on EDI efforts, moderated the discussion. Drawing on her own experience as the daughter of an activist and an educator, Petitt guided the exchange with Gay on her experience as an author, living with intersectional identities and finding hope.
Highlights from Gay’s conversation:
On identity…
“We live in a world that flattens identity. I encourage you to always resist this flatness, to embrace multiple dimensions of yourself. Embracing that is an act you have to commit to every single day. People often want things to be simple and black and white, but we don’t live in that world. I try to always recognize that I contain multitudes and so does everyone I encounter. I give them the same grace I hope they extend me.”
On advice for writers…
“Make the time and commitment to just write. The only way you’ll write something is to write it. There’s no magic to it. I try to publish books I want to see in the world and hopefully, what I’ve written sees the right people. You also have to write readable prose to reach readers, something we tend to discount. But you can write about important topics and still write beautifully.”
On receiving feedback…
“Whenever you write something into the world, you have no control over how it’s received. Be comfortable not knowing how people will engage with your work. Not all feedback is useful. If it’s not useful, I’ll say, ‘That’s for other people reading my work, not me.’ I try to learn from the feedback and tolerate the discomfort as best I can.”
On book banning…
“History repeats itself when people don’t read. We have to resist book banning at every turn because it’s a slippery slope. You have to fight these things when you see them. Anything can be a dangerous idea in the hands of an impoverished mind.”
On protest…
“You have to create space for diverse dialogues and not punish people for engaging in those. Protest is meant to be disruptive, loud and uncomfortable, and college campuses have always been ripe sites for protest. I hope institutions remember that it’s okay for students to protest. My students at Rutgers University push me further left and I learn from them every day because as you get older, you become more scared. Campuses need to start to listen, support and work with protestors so the students will be more effective in the world. College is a laboratory for protest. Let students cook.”
On hope in dark times…
Things can change and things have been worse. But change takes energy, effort, investment and discomfort. I try to have balance, to believe that things can change and to be willing to do the work. Young people are quite energized, lucid and angry about the state of the world. Anger is a healthy emotion and I encourage people to use their anger as an engine.
Anything can be a dangerous idea in the hands of an impoverished mind.
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