Beyond Memory and Words: Exploring Identity in They Made A List by Susan Letzler Cole

By SAFIYA MOHAMED

SDSU Press

They Made A List: A Memoir Beyond Memory by Susan Letzler Cole is a beautifully reflective journey through early language, memory, and the quiet power of parental attention. Rather than following a linear narrative, Cole’s memoir unfolds as a series of intimate meditations—lenses through which we glimpse not only a child’s early development but the enduring mystery of self-discovery. 

At the heart of the book is a lovingly compiled list of the author's first 200 words, meticulously recorded by her parents during the first ten and a half months of her life. Years after their passing, Cole uncovered these lists and embarked on a deeply personal quest: to discover which word came first. That search led her to profound questions—about identity, memory, and the very act of noticing.

"Why do I care about this list of my earliest words?" Cole asks. "Am I looking for myself? Am I looking for my parents, long dead, whom I might resurrect by these words? If I could peer into my first words, or the spaces between them, what would I know about my life? Do I learn that we shall never know enough about who we are, and why?"

They Made A List offers readers more than just a nostalgic look at babyhood. With baby snapshots, health records, parental notes, and tender reflections, it becomes a meditation on how we trace the threads of who we are—through language, love, and the fragments our caregivers leave behind.

Susan Letzler Cole is a professor of English and director of the Concentrations in Creative Writing and Dramatic Studies at Albertus Magnus College. She is also the author of several acclaimed works, including The Absent One, Directors in Rehearsal, Playwrights in Rehearsal, and Missing Alice: In Search of a Mother’s Voice. 

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ISBN-10 : 193853719X

ISBN-13 : 978-1938537196

Exploring Identity and Creativity in Latino/a Literature with Daniel A. Olivas

By SAFIYA MOHAMED

SDSU Press

Things We Do Not Talk About by Daniel A. Olivas is a powerful and intimate journey through the landscape of Latino/a literature. Blending insightful interviews and deeply personal essays, Olivas shines a light on the voices shaping contemporary Chicano and Latino storytelling. 

At the core of this collection is Olivas’s fascination with identity, creativity, and cultural expression. He brings together a wide range of Latina and Latino authors—including Aaron A. Abeyta, Daniel Alarcón, Francisco Aragón, Gustavo Arellano, Gregg Barrios, Richard Blanco, Margo Candela, Susana Chávez-Silverman, Sandra Cisneros, Carlos E. Cortés, and many more—to explore how writers navigate the challenges of life, bigotry, writer’s block, and the unpredictable world of publishing.

Through these intimate conversations, Olivas asks the questions many writers quietly grapple with: What does it mean to be a Chicano writer? What do readers expect from me? What do I expect from myself? The result is a collection that not only celebrates literary achievement but also humanizes it, revealing the personal battles and cultural complexities behind the page. 

Daniel A. Olivas: Our Stories Are Important

Daniel A. Olivas—a prolific author, the grandson of Mexican immigrants, and a practicing attorney—brings a rare depth and nuance to this exploration. With 12 books and two anthologies under his belt, his body of work includes My Chicano Heart: New and Collected Stories of Love and Other Transgressions and Chicano Frankenstein: A Novel. His writings have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Zócalo, and Los Angeles Review of Books, among others.

“With passion and earnestness Daniel Olivas reveals that the preoccupations of the contemporary Chicana/o writer are vast and complex. Most Chicanas/os and Latinas/os would attest to this, of course, but how often do we see this range in published form? Through personal essays and probing interviews, Olivas tackles not only the craft of writing but also its moral implications. We are lucky to have such a generous author in our midst.”
                —Maceo Montoya,
                 author of The Deportation of Wopper Barraza

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ISBN-10:193853705X 

ISBN-13:978-1-938537-05-9

Mastering the Initial Clinical Interview: Insights from Ralph R. Greenson’s Seminars

By SAFIYA MOHAMED

The third installment in The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis series, Assessment: The Initial Clinical Interviews, The Ralph R. Greenson Training Seminars, is part of a comprehensive 10-part volume collection that offers a rare glimpse into the foundational teachings of one of psychoanalysis' most influential figures. Edited and annotated by Lee Jaffe, this volume provides a meticulously transcribed record of Dr. Greenson’s first three training seminars, delivered in 1959 at the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Institute (now the New Center for Psychoanalysis).

In these insightful discussions, Greenson and his students explore critical clinical topics, including:

• Navigating the first interactions with a prospective patient

• Evaluating suitability for military service

• Addressing substance abuse with patients in a therapeutic setting

These seminars capture Greenson’s early thoughts on the psychoanalytic process, making this book an invaluable resource for clinicians, students, and scholars seeking a deeper understanding of initial patient engagement. Lee Jaffe expertly organizes and annotates the material, maintaining the structure of previous volumes while providing essential background context. His careful editing ensures that Greenson’s teachings remain relevant to contemporary psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic practice, bridging past and present with clarity and depth.

A renowned psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Greenson played a pivotal role in shaping modern psychoanalytic technique. He studied medicine in Bern, Switzerland, and was analyzed by Wilhelm Stekel—a direct student of Sigmund Freud—before continuing his training with Otto Fenichel and Frances Deri in Los Angeles. Greenson later became a clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA and a prolific contributor to psychoanalytic literature, publishing 53 papers and the landmark The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis (1967), a text still regarded as essential reading for clinicians. 

"Ralph Greenson was a gifted, charismatic teacher of psychoanalytic technique, premier in his generation. I, along with many other students of analysis, had the privilege of learning from his clear yet scintillating seminars on dreams and clinical practice. The editor has done a major service to all mental health practitioners by providing these brilliant, sparkling Greenson seminars, notes, and papers for our benefit."
— Peter Loewenberg, Professor of History Emeritus, UCLA / Training and Supervising Analyst, Dean Emeritus, New Center for Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles

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The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis, 4  (edited by Harry Polkinhorn)

The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis, 5 (edited by Harry Polkinhorn)

The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis, 6 (edited by Harry Polkinhorn)

The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis, 7 (edited by Harry Polkinhorn)

The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis, 8 (edited by Harry Polkinhorn)

The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis, 9 (edited by Harry Polkinhorn)

The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis, 10 (edited by Harry Polkinhorn)

ISBN 10 : 1938537076

ISBN 13 : 978-1938537073

The Power of One: Enrique Morones and the Border Angels' Mission to Save Lives

By SAFIYA MOHAMED

In Border Angels: The Power of One, Enrique Morones, with Richard Griswold del Castillo, tells the inspiring story of his fight to save lives and stand up for human rights at the U.S.-Mexico border. Morones, who founded the Border Angels organization, witnessed firsthand the deadly consequences of immigration enforcement policies and became a tireless advocate for those caught in the crossfire. 

Born in San Diego to a Mexican family, Morones is the first in his family to have dual citizenship. His roots in activism run deep, with his father, Luis N. Morones, founding Mexico’s first major labor union, the Confederación Regional Obrera Mexicana. Enrique’s passion for justice led him to become a leading voice against the humanitarian crisis caused by policies like Operation Gatekeeper, which, beginning in 1994, ramped up border enforcement and led to increased migrant deaths.

Morones’ journey into activism started within his own community. A chance encounter with a friend who worked with an outreach group at the Elizabeth Seaton Catholic Church revealed a harsh reality: migrants were living in the canyons of North County, San Diego, in deplorable conditions. Shocked from what he heard, Morones began regularly volunteering, which eventually inspired him to launch Border Angels.

When his marketing career with the San Diego Padres came to an end, Morones committed full-time to his humanitarian work. From organizing caravans across the country to raise awareness of migrant issues to speaking on national television programs like The Today Show, Larry King Live, and Sabado Gigante, Morones became a powerful voice for the immigrant community. His activism reached beyond local efforts, organizing relief for migrants during disasters, such as the 2007 San Diego firestorm. 

Enrique Morones for University of San Diego 2013 Alumni Honoree

Morones calls on others to join the cause, emphasizing the importance of local, national, and international efforts to save immigrant lives and hold the United States accountable to its promises of justice and equality. Border Angels: The Power of One serves as a testimonio, a personal account of the political events surrounding immigration, while honoring the lives of those lost in the pursuit of freedom. The book includes a list of immigrant deaths from 1994 to 2007 and 31 silent epitaphs, providing a sobering reminder of the human cost of the border crisis.

Morones also debunks common myths about undocumented immigrants, sharing the realities of their struggles and providing a powerful message of hope and action.

As Paul F. Chavez, son of legendary activist Cesar Chavez, states, “Courageous members of the Border Angels are honoring the legacy of my father by making a powerful statement against inhumanity and oppression endured on our border by innocent immigrants.” Border Angels: The Power of One is not just a memoir—it's a call to action to continue the fight for justice, compassion, and the lives of those who seek a better future.

For anyone seeking to understand the true impact of immigration policies and the tireless efforts of activists like Morones, this book is a must-read.

Border Angels - About Us

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ISBN-10: 1938537904   

ISBN-13: 978-1-938537-90-5

Introducing Splice Volume 5: The Revitalized Undergraduate Research Journal of SDSU

By SAFIYA MOHAMED

Presenting Volume 5 of Splice, the Undergraduate Research Journal of the SDSU College of Arts and Letters, originally printed in the Fall of 2019. This issue marks a fresh start for the journal, following a major redesign from its previous incarnation, "URJCAL: The Undergraduate Research Journal of the College of Arts and Letters." As Editor-in-Chief Jana Jarvis explains, the redesign "upholds our mission of engaging undergraduate students with the rigors of academic research and maintains our core values as a collaborative, multidisciplinary text." 

Splice serves as a unique platform that unites a vast array of academic fields, spotlighting the diversity and depth of research fostered by SDSU’s College of Arts and Letters. By bridging the humanities and social sciences, the journal offers students a space to showcase their scholarly work and contribute to interdisciplinary dialogue.

This issue represents a new chapter for Splice and for the students and alumni of SDSU. Featured within Volume 5 are thought-provoking essays that explore a wide range of topics, demonstrating the intellectual curiosity and academic rigor of SDSU students. Here’s what you’ll find inside:

• "Caging for Profits: Rethinking the Neoliberal State and the Rise of the Prison Industrial Complex" by Aliona Galkina

• "Watershed Management in the Eastern Sierra Region of California: Changes to Water Policies in the Long and Owens Valleys and Potential Effects on Dependent Communities" by Calvin Forsythe

• "Capitães da Areia: Crianças ou Adultos?" by Pricilla Moreno

• "Assessing Descartes’ Ontological Argument: Dissecting Attributes and Clarifying the Idea of 'God'" by Lashele Jackson

• "The Names of God" by Roda Saoor

• "The Rise of ISIS: Grievances Trump Religion" by Naomi Moore

• "Waste and War" by Miles Reyes

For SDSU students and alumni, Splice is more than just a journal—it's an ongoing conversation, a community of scholars committed to pushing the boundaries of research, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Whether you’re currently at SDSU or have moved on to new endeavors, this journal is a testament to the exceptional academic work being done by members of the SDSU community.

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ISBN: 978-1-938537-14-1

Amir Issaa’s This Is What I Live For: A Powerful Afro-Italian Hip-Hop Memoir

By SAFIYA MOHAMED

“I don’t need excuses to be myself. None of us do. My name is Amir Issaa, I am Italian, I am Egyptian, I am not a foreigner in any place in the world.” 

These words are at the heart of Amir Issaa’s memoir, This Is What I Live For: An Afro-Italian Hip-Hop Memoir, a groundbreaking work that blends personal narrative with the rhythms of rap. Edited by Clarissa Clò, this bilingual edition is crafted like a concept album, with each “track” building toward a larger, unified story. For anyone interested in the intersection of identity, culture, and social justice, this memoir offers a fresh perspective that is as much about hip-hop as it is about resilience, family, and fighting against systemic oppression. 

Raised in the Tor Pignattara neighborhood of Rome by his Egyptian father and Italian mother, Issaa’s upbringing was shaped by his interfaith, interracial background. He reflects on how his mother’s relentless work to support their family while his father was incarcerated, his formative experiences in a city like Rome, and the pervasive influence of hip-hop in Italian youth culture helped shape his identity. Despite facing racism and social injustices, Issaa's music became his outlet, channeling the anger and frustration he felt about the discrimination he and others like him experienced.

Issaa’s rap is a defiant act of resistance—his lyrics denounce racism, classism, and the oppression faced by marginalized communities in Italy. With raw honesty, he describes how being discriminated against for his name, skin color, and perceived immigrant status fueled his drive to break free from society’s expectations.

Italy, traditionally a racially and culturally homogeneous country, saw hip-hop make its mark in the '80s as a youth-driven movement. Issaa’s journey into hip-hop culture was an evolution—beginning with skateboarding, then graffiti, followed by breakdancing, before finally embracing rap. His debut album, Uomo di prestigio, released in 2006, marked the start of a musical career that has continued to inspire others. Before becoming an educator and traveling internationally to teach hip-hop workshops, Issaa used his music as a platform for social change. 

This Is What I Live For is more than just a memoir—it's a love letter to his family, especially his mother, sister, and the strong women who raised him. It’s also a call to recognize the role of politics and social divisions in Italian society, from the tensions between left and right-wing ideologies to the persistence of fascist thought. Through his story, Issaa invites readers into the heart of Italian youth culture and the transformative power of hip-hop.

For anyone passionate about music, identity, and social justice, This Is What I Live For is a must-read. It’s a powerful reminder of the strength found in embracing your true self and the power of storytelling to challenge the status quo.

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Bohemia in Southern California- A Romantic History of the Unconvential Artists of Los Angeles

California is truly one of a kind. With a combination of Spanish, Mexican, Native American, and Anglo people, California developed an artistic culture distinct from the rest of the United States. But In Jay Ruby’s book, Bohemia in Southern California, he has curated a collection of essays that depict California’s rich Bohemian history and culture. But what is ‘’Bohemia”?

When I think of bohemia, I think of loose, paisley print pants, straw hats, board shorts, and surfboards. There’s also the song Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, which was very popular for still unknown reasons. Through my research I’ve also learned that there used to be a country called Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic. For today’s purpose, we’re going to circle back to my initial thought. Bohemia is a section of California beach culture. Ruby himself calls his definition an “attempt”- stating that a bohemian is someone involved in the arts who lives an unconventional life, usually in a community of like-minded persons. As LA became the hub for film in the United states, there was an influx of artistic people moving to the city. It wasn’t until the sixties that art other than renaissance pieces became popular and more accessible to the general public.

With this shift, we see the lower class begin to embody more of what we know now as Californian bohemian culture. A anti-capitalist, pro-nature approach to living life. Unsurprisingly, bohemian culture spread across the social classes, giving Southern California the laid back attitude it still has today. With the rise of bohemia came the hippie movement, a mix of people that were environmentalists and those that liked the aesthetic of poverty and drugs. As an artistic and alternative movement, it attracted people that wanted to live “unconventional” lives. It’s the unconventional aspect that makes Southern Californian Bohemia different than any other, as Los Angeles isn’t an urban city. Beachgoers and surfers, unaffectionately nicknamed “beach bums” in 1950, wanted to get away from the structure of regular working. As bohemian and beach culture intertwined, they became the prevalent Southern Californian culture to those outside the area.

Within the book, there’s a focus on six communities. Arroyo Seco, Edendale, Santa Barbara, Malibu/Topanga Beach, Venice, and Laurel Canyon. These communities are all in the greater Los Angeles area. As they are now, some of these communities aren’t quite as bohemian-artsy as they once were. They are very conventional, some being upper class neighborhoods, but they all still have that Southern Californian bohemian art in their core. Aside from Santa Barbara, each community has multiple essays, each focusing on a different aspect of bohemian history and culture.

This impressive and illustrated anthology features 12 different perspectives. The authors are Californians, scholars, artists, whose unique lives add a multidisciplinary approach to the study of Bohemian culture. And with its focus on specific communities and not Southern California as a whole, it’s clear that Ruby made this book as a love letter to the history of Southern Californian artistry. I highly recommend this book as an addition to the traditional California history and art books due to the level of detail and different perspectives.

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ISBN: 1938537106

Paper / Pages: 262 / $22.95

2017

Exploring Zaum: How Russian Futurism Revolutionized Art and Language

 By SAFIYA MOHAMED

“To all who work to keep human nature indeterminate.”

In the world of avant-garde art and poetry, few movements have been as bold and transformative as Russian Futurism. At its core lies Zaum, a concept that defies convention and pushes the boundaries of communication. If you’re fascinated by the intersection of creativity, culture, and disruption, Zaum: The Transrational Poetry of Russian Futurism by Gerald Janecek is a must-read.

Zaum: ...Russian Futurism

Zaum: The Transrational Poetry of Russian Futurism is an encyclopedic account of Zaum, one of the most distinctive features of Russian avant-garde art and poetry in the early 20th century. Drawing from a vast array of arcane and often inaccessible sources, Janecek aims to make the historical records of Zaum theory and practice readable and comprehensive. This makes his work an essential resource for anyone interested in modern art and poetry, particularly students of Russian Futurism.

Zaum, a neologism of Russian Futurism, describes words or language with “indefinite” or indeterminate meaning. It is also translated as “trans-mental,” “transrational,” “trans-sense,” “metalogical,” or even “nonsense” language—think abstract poetry meets linguistic rebellion. Gerald Janecek’s in-depth exploration traces its origins to Aleksei Kruchenykh’s groundbreaking 1912 poem “Dyr bul shchyl,” which shattered the norms of traditional language by using nonsensical sounds to evoke emotion. This marked a radical shift in Russian literary practices.

What makes Zaum truly fascinating is its dual role as both a literary and cultural tool. Janecek also highlights pivotal works like Kruchenykh’s Universal War (1916), which blends transrational poetry with abstract collages, showcasing the synergy of linguistic and visual avant-garde techniques. Zaum reflected the Futurists’ ambition to transcend rational thought and tap into a deeper, more primal form of expression. Innovators such as Kruchenykh, Velimir Khlebnikov, and other Futurists sought to develop a language that could evoke emotional and intellectual responses without being restricted by traditional linguistic rules. Zaum represented the Futurists’ desire to challenge societal norms and embrace rapid change. Their vision was simple yet profound: to create a language that transcends words and connects on a deeper, more emotional level.

In practice, Zaum appeared in both poetry and visual art, utilizing invented sounds and abstract forms to convey meaning beyond the literal. Janecek emphasizes how Zaum was more than a literary technique; it was a cultural tool that mirrored the rapid social and political changes of early 20th-century Russia. By challenging established norms, the Futurists revolutionized both art and communication, creating a legacy that continues to influence modern creative practices.

For marketers and creatives, Zaum offers valuable lessons in thinking beyond the literal. It’s a reminder that effective storytelling doesn’t always have to follow established rules—it’s about making an impact and creating meaningful connections. Take a cue from Zaum—don't be afraid to disrupt, innovate, and let your creativity speak a language of its own.

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ISBN 1-879691-41-8 
Paper, 428 pp.
US $30.00
2023