Author Archives: Richard Jeffrey Newman

As a Jew, I Do Not Feel Safe

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

As the husband of a Muslim woman and the father of a son whose name marks him as foreign even though he was born in the United States, I have been reading with care, gratitude, and a welcome sense of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 16 Comments

From “Am I Alive Today Because I’m White?”—An essay in progress

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I am at work on an essay about white privilege that I am tentatively calling “Am I Alive Today Because I Am White?” It’s actually something I started trying to write about a year ago, after Michael Brown was shot and killed … Continue reading →

Posted in Race, racism and related issues | Comments Off on From “Am I Alive Today Because I’m White?”—An essay in progress

A Gay Iranian Mullah Who is a Refugee in Turkey

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

This is a pretty remarkable story.

Posted in Iran, Islam, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer issues | Comments Off on A Gay Iranian Mullah Who is a Refugee in Turkey

A Launch Party, Some Other Upcoming Events, and Publication News

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

Upcoming Events It’s been a while since I’ve posted here—I’m hoping to get back to more regular blogging soon—but June is coming and I have a lot to tell you about, starting with Ghostbird Press’ 2016 launch party, which will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Rape, intimate violence, & related issues, Writing | Comments Off on A Launch Party, Some Other Upcoming Events, and Publication News

A Video of the First US Launch Reading for Veils, Halos & Shackles

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

https://youtu.be/unDjxal1P18 Note: the poems in this video deal with sexual violence. This reading, which took place at the Long Island Writers House on April 17th, was truly powerful. It was a privilege to be the first reader among such fine poets. I hope you’ll take … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Rape Culture, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues, sexual assault, Writing | Comments Off on A Video of the First US Launch Reading for Veils, Halos & Shackles

I’m Kvelling: My Son’s Band, Starbat, has Released Their First Single on Bandcamp

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

[bandcamp width=350 height=470 album=384959557 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false] Check it out and, if you like the song—which I do, a lot, and not just because I played the small synth part at the end—I hope you’ll consider buying it. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on I’m Kvelling: My Son’s Band, Starbat, has Released Their First Single on Bandcamp

For My Son, A Kind of Prayer Is Out! And Other Publication Announcements

Posted on April 10, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

April 2016 has definitly not been cruel to me. I have three publication announcements I’d like to share with you. Announcement One: For My Son, A Kind of Prayer I am very happy to announce that my new chapbook For My Son, … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | 4 Comments

It’s a Frightening Thing That Someone in the 21st Century Would Seriously Make the Argument that Jeffrey Lord Makes in This Video

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I did not see the full exchange, and I hope Lord did not get the last word, as he does in this video excerpt, which I found in a piece in The New York Times by James Poniewozik. It’s worth reading the whole thing. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics, Race, racism and related issues | 16 Comments

One Reason It’s Important to Pay Attention to the Elections in Iran

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

https://www.facebook.com/iranwireenglish/videos/975076229235655/   This is important to pay attention to not because it means women are suddenly free of discrimination and oppression in Iran, but because it demonstrates that Iranian women are not the helpless, powerless victims they are often portrayed as … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran | 16 Comments

Publication News: Two Days Left to Preorder Veils, Halos & Shackles

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I am normally more on top of these things, but somehow the email letting me know about the special pre-order discount ($14.95, which is $10 off the cover price) on Veils, Halos & Shackles: International Poetry on the Oppression and … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, sexism, etc, literature, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues, Writing | Comments Off on Publication News: Two Days Left to Preorder Veils, Halos & Shackles