NEWS: USN hosts first author in residence
Sarah Jacobs '21 and Esha Karam '21
Published in the February 2019 edition of the Peabody Press.
Published in the February 2019 edition of the Peabody Press.
by Sarah Jacobs '21 and Esha Karam '21
On Monday, Feb. 25, the USN High School hosted its first author in residence, Jamel Brinkley. Brinkley, who recently published his first book to critical acclaim, visited classrooms and held a community-wide reading during his visit.
On Monday, Feb. 25, the USN High School hosted its first author in residence, Jamel Brinkley. Brinkley, who recently published his first book to critical acclaim, visited classrooms and held a community-wide reading during his visit.
Brinkley’s visit is part of a new author in residence program, where an author visits USN’s campus to interact with students in classes to share their work with the USN community and the broader Nashville community. The program, piloted by English Department Chair Freya Sachs and Library Director Mary Buxton, is one that the school hopes to continue in the future.
“We’re starting in High School this year, and next year it’ll be Middle School, the following Lower School, and then we’ll rotate back through a second time to see how it works,” Sachs said.
With this in mind, Sachs reached out to Brinkley, whom she had met through a summer teaching program, requesting that he visit the school and interact with students.
“The goal [was] to get someone on campus who is writing work that is accessible and interesting to interact with students,” she said.
The Hassenfeld Library played an integral role in the effort to bring Brinkley on campus. The funding for this insightful visit came from the generosity of the Fall Book Frenzy and USNA donations. The author visit also keeps with the library’s mission.
“It’s really important [for students] to be exposed to different genres, different authors, different points of view and different ideas,” Buxton said. “That's what the library is all about–encouraging writing and if you love it, go for it.”
Brinkley’s work and experience certainly fit into the goals of the program. His first book, a collection of short stories titled “A Lucky Man,” is easy for classes to read, and addresses relevant topics.
“He’s writing about relationships within families; he’s writing about the consequences and echoes of choices that individuals make; he’s writing about what it means to be young and black and male in New York specifically, in America more broadly. I think [he’s] addressing a lot of questions that we’re all kind of struggling with, about how to exist in the changing world we live in,” Sachs said.
At the Lunch and Learn for High School students and faculty, Brinkley commented about the role women and femininity play in his work.
He said, “I think in a lot of my stories I’m trying to show an accurate description of how men and boys see women. I’m also trying to show how women exceed these expectations of the male gaze.”
Sibling and family relationships also play a big part in the stories in the collection.
“I’ve heard people say, ‘You know, I love you because you’re family, but I don’t like you.’ There’s this combination of attraction and repulsion,” Brinkley said.
“I try to capture both the love and the not-so-good feelings that might develop [in families],” he added.
Brinkley’s intended audience for the collection reflects his life’s journey.
“I feel like I’m writing for readers who are straddling a few different worlds,” he said, from Ivy League academics to people who grew up in the same New York neighborhood as him.
Brinkley’s past experience as a high school teacher also made him ideal as an author in residence. An important and unique aspect of the author in residence program is interaction with students, and Brinkley fielded questions from students thoughtfully and earnestly.
In preparation for Brinkley’s class visit, junior American Literature classes read a story from the author’s book titled “A Family.”
Junior Sam Horner particularly enjoyed exploring a contemporary writer’s style and its relation with other writers’ styles.
“The story that we read is called “A Family.” It mirrors a James Baldwin story, a famous black writer from the 20th century,” Horner said. “It was so interesting that [Brinkley] was able to use classic literary forms to represent issues that people experience today.”
Unfortunately, Brinkley’s visit, originally intended for two and a half days, was cut short to one and a half days. “A Lucky Man” was recently named a finalist for the Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection at the PEN America Literary Awards, an award that carries with it a $25,000 prize. Brinkley attended the awards ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in New York.
“A Lucky Man” has, however, already earned Brinkley the 2018 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence and is a finalist for both the National Book Award for Fiction and the John Leonard Award for Best First Book.
The USN community is grateful for the opportunity to host Brinkley as he educates and inspires students regarding the profession of writing. In the coming years, the school hopes to host even more acclaimed authors so students can continue to expand their horizons and learn more about the authors behind the stories they read.
More USN News
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Ava ’26 recognized by National Council of Teachers of English
Congratulations to the rising senior, who has been selected for a 2025 Achievement Award in Writing by the National Council of Teachers of English.Read More -
Retired faculty, staff return to USN
As part of a longstanding tradition, retired teachers and professionals from USN over the years came together to celebrate, connect, and reminisce during their annual luncheon in Durnan Auditorium.Read More -
Athletes beyond Edgehill
Read MoreIt is common to have five or more University School of Nashville student-athletes sign college athletic commitment letters each year, and this year, USN saw eight more student-athletes commit to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. USN has several alumni participating in their chosen sport at the collegiate level from the Classes of 2021 through 2025. Continue reading to learn more about where Tigers are competing beyond Edgehill.
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.