Ausma Zehanat Khan, Writer: Mysteries and Human Rights
Art Heals All Wounds
03/01/23
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Today, I’m joined by writer Ausma Zehanat Khan to discuss how she explores the scope and horror of nationalism, Islamophobia, and racism in page-turner detective novels. As a Muslim woman and former immigration and human rights lawyer, Ausma draws on her professional and personal experiences to craft enticing storylines around topics like criminal justice reform and race relations.
In our conversation, we unpack themes and details of her most recent book, Blackwater Falls, and Ausma provides insight into what inspired her to pursue this story. We also touch on some of Ausma’s earlier work, including her decade-long research on The Balkan Wars that informed her debut novel, The Unquiet Dead.
Ausma has a unique perspective on American politics as a Canadian living in rural Colorado. She sees first-hand the impact of systemic racism and xenophobia on BIPOC communities in her area.
Set in a similar town to where Ausma currently lives, Blackwater Falls illuminates the nuances of how ultra-nationalist movements gain traction and eventually erase multiculturalism. Through the heavy topics, Ausma also artfully weaves in elements of romance, family dynamics, and small town drama.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● What sparked Ausma’s investigation on military intervention and war crimes of The Balkan Wars
● Using crime fiction as a way to communicate about systemic injustices
● The identity challenges that many BIPOC law enforcement officers face
● Ausma’s thought process behind the three main power structures in Blackwater Falls
● The signs and consequences of ‘incrementalism’ in American politics
Guest Info:
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
Previous Episode
Today, I’m joined by Ajuan Mance, a visual artist and educator who recently published an illustrated encyclopedia titled, Living While Black: Portraits of Everyday Resistance. The book features around forty illustrations of activities that are perfectly legal, but for which African Americans have been arrested, harassed, or even killed. In our conversation, Ajuan provides some context for why she created this body of work and reflects on stylistic choices, including her decision to portray Black people how she sees them: resilient, loving, and joyful.
There’s a powerful juxtaposition in the formatting of the book. On one side of the page, Ajuan includes colorful illustrations of everyday life, and on the other side, there’s a description of the weighty subject matter. Whether it’s a glare at a high-end supermarket or a not-so-routine traffic stop, Living While Black illuminates stories that don't make the major news cycle, but are so important to understand the daily discrimination that Black people endure for simply existing. Ajuan also highlights some of her personal takeaways from the illustration process. The scope and age range of Black people who are subject to violence continues to shock her, but she hopes this book will call attention to the narratives and stereotypes that deeply harm her community.
Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● Ajuan’s personal relationship to Living While Black
● What it was like for Ajuan to do such a large collection of drawings around the violence and harassment of Black people
● Ajuan’s decision to include a timeline of events at the end of the book
● How the non black people's perceptions of African Americans put African Americans in danger
● Ajuan’s strategy for illustrating the community that’s left in the wake of traumatic events
● The message that Ajuan hopes to leave readers with
Guest Info:
● Living While Black: Portraits of Everyday Resistance
● Ajuan's Instagram
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
Next Episode
Today, I’m joined by writer Aimée Baker and filmmakers Vanessa Cicarelli and Jason Greer. Aimée is the author of Doe, an award-winning poetry collection in which she commemorates the lives of missing and unidentified girls and women in the United States. She is Vanessa and Jason’s full-length documentary about Aimée and her eye-opening work. With true crime podcasts and series topping the charts, I often wonder if we’re all becoming desensitized to the real-life horror of the subject matter. Doe and She have a more empathetic approach to the genre. Aimée, Vanessa, and Jason work to honor the victims, particularly those who don’t make front-page news.
In our conversation, we discuss the importance of making visible something that’s in danger of being forgotten or disappearing. Aimée, Vanessa, and Jason highlight the lack of attention and sympathy that missing BIPOC women receive, as well as challenge the narrative that girls and women are asking for trouble when they engage in certain behaviors considered as risky. We also get into details about both the writing and filmmaking processes. Aimée opens up about what inspired her to pursue these stories and how she took care of herself during such an emotionally challenging project. Vanessa and Jason share how they built trust with Aimée when she was hesitant about the film and what their overarching goals are for it.
Listen, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● Using poetry to express possible parts of the story of missing and unidentified women in the United States
● Vanessa and Jason’s connection to Aimée’s work and why they wanted to make a documentary about it
● What Aimée discovered about the incredible bias about who does (and doesn’t) get media coverage when they’re missing or unidentified
● The range of emotions that all three artists experienced while engaging with these stories
● A deeply moving reading from Doe called “Dustland Fairytale”
Guest Info:
● Watch or Download She
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
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