Interview: Writer And Poet Saeed Jones On 'How We Fight For Our Lives'

It's Been a Minute

NPR

Society & Culture, News, News Commentary, Religion & Spirituality, Spirituality

4.7 • 9.2K Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2019

⏱️ 47 minutes

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Summary

In his memoir, 'How We Fight For Our Lives,' poet and writer Saeed Jones gets vulnerable as he details his coming of age as black and gay in suburban Texas. The former BuzzFeed editor sat down with Sam Sanders to give a glimpse of the stories behind his book, including those of his mother and grandmother, and one where he faced violence during a sexual encounter with another man.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey y'all, I am Sam Sandage, you are listening to It's Been a Minute.
0:10.4	On this show, I interview a fair amount of authors publishing memoirs.
0:15.1	This interview is one of those, but it's different perhaps than every other one you've
0:19.2	heard in this podcast.
0:21.3	This is the first author, the first memoir interview, where I actually felt like I knew the
0:26.2	guest was friends with the guest before our conversation.
0:30.7	This guest is Said Jones, and I felt like I knew him because his Twitter feed is this
0:36.3	open book and this amazing digital personal diary that I have been following for months.
0:42.4	On his feed, Said tells you everything, and it's all equal parts poignant and hilarious.
0:48.1	Make sure to feel like you're living your life with him.
0:51.4	Said Jones is an award-winning poet.
0:53.8	His book of poems from a few years ago, Prelude to Bruce, It Won a Stonewall Book Award
0:58.9	in 2015.
0:59.9	It was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
1:04.4	And now, Said Jones is out with his first memoir.
1:08.0	It is called How We Fight for Our Lives.
1:11.1	This book is all about Said's unique life story.
1:14.6	He grew up black and gay and Buddhist in suburban Texas.
1:20.1	He found a way over time to love himself and be himself without shame.
1:25.1	This chat is a good one, but it's heavy.
1:27.0	Said and I talk frankly and graphically about sex and sexuality and abuse.
1:32.4	May not be the best conversation for kids to hear.
	...

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