I just bought cigarettes for work...

I never thought I would get to say that, but it’s true. Before I tell you what that was all about, I should at least give you some idea of what I do for work at U of L.

I have a sweet deal where I get to split my time between the Women’s and Gender Studies Department and the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research. Here some fun details:

Anne Braden Institute – you see, Anne Braden rocked harder than Bon Jovi. She was a journalist and a social activist and for over five decades she fought to end oppression in the United States, specifically in the south. She endured mistrust from the government, her family, some friends, and a great deal of the population of Louisville because of her convictions concerning race—but she never faltered. Here she is fighting for racial justice:

My jobs for the Institute:

1. Campus Social Justice Coalition Liaison. Translation: Hang out with the most amazing people on campus who are out there kicking ass to end every conceivable type of oppression and help with fun events like Take Back the Night, Pride Week, Peace and Justice Week, Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, International Women’s Day, etc.

2. TA Duties. Translation: Hang out with a professor I have already come to love and adore and help her keep track of grades, maybe grade easy writing assignment, etc.

My jobs for Women’s and Gender Studies:

1. Community Internship Liaison. Translation: Hang out with people from some of the coolest non-profits in Louisville so that our senior undergrads have places to do their 100 hour internships.

2. Women’s and Gender Studies Outreach. Translation: Hang out with other WGS students, area high school students, alumni and friends of WGS to talk about the WGS program and feminism in general.

That’s right. My job is awesome. I’m like fucking Jesus. The only way I could be more like Jesus is if my duties actually required walking on water.

Okay, so the cigarettes. One of the fun things that I got to do for both WGS and ABI was help decorate altars for the Dia de Los Muertos celebration at the Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts. This year they are doing an installation honoring a few of the incredible men and women who have worked/taught at the University of Louisville. 

Two of these women were Lilialyce Akers and Anne Braden. Lilialyce is the reason I get to attend graduate school and be like Jesus. When she passed away she left $500,000 to start a scholarship fund, of which I am one of the recipients. You already know a little about Anne. 

Part of decorating the Altar requires gathering personal mementos or items that would have had significance to Lilialyce and Anne. Below are some fun pictures of me helping set up the exhibit. Anyhoo…Anne smoked Vantage cigarettes for years so I was sent on an errand to find a pack which allowed me to utter a phrase I never thought I would, “I just bought cigarettes for work.”

Me and the cigarettes

Anne's Altar

Lilialyce's Altar