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Chrystos

March 03, 2023

Not to be confused with Christos (disambiguation).

Chrystos (/ˈkrɪstoʊs/; born November 7, 1946, as Christina Smith)[1] is a writer and activist who has published various books and poems that explore indigenous Americans's civil rights, social justice, and feminism. They identify as Menominee and two-spirit, but are not enrolled in any tribe.[2][3] Chrystos is also a lecturer, writing teacher and fine-artist. The poet uses the pronouns "they" and "them".

Chrystos
Born
Christina Smith

(1946-11-07) November 7, 1946 (age 76)
San Francisco, California, USA
NationalityMenominee
American
Occupations
  • Writer
  • artist
  • activist

Life and career

Chrystos – a resident of Ocean Shores, Washington since 2011[4] – is a lesbian- and two-spirit-identifying writer, artist and activist. Born off-reservation in San Francisco, California, self-identifying as an urban Indian,[5] Chrystos was taught to read by a self-educated father, and began writing poetry at age nine. Chrystos has written of a difficult, "emotional and abnormal" childhood, including sexual abuse by a relative,[5] life with an abusive and depressed white mother of Lithuanian and Alsatian descent, and a Menominee father who was a WW2 veteran. At the age of seventeen, Chrystos was placed into a mental institution. They fell into drug addiction, alcoholism, and prostitution during this time. They would be re-institutionalized several more times before deciding it was ineffective in helping their mental health issues.[6]

A self-described political poet, Chrystos was inspired by familial angst stemming from European American cultural hegemony,[7] and more positively influenced by the work of Audre Lorde, Joy Harjo, Elizabeth Woody, and Lillian Pitt, among others,[8] to produce a series of volumes of poetry and prose throughout the 1980s and 1990s (see bibliography below). Chrystos' work focuses on social justice issues, such as how colonialism, genocide, class and gender affect the lives of women and Indigenous peoples.[9] Much of the writer's childhood is evident in works about street life, gardening, mental institutions, incest, "the Man" (authoritarian patriarchy), love, sex, and hate. The works are primarily intended for an audience of Native American / First Nations, people of color more broadly, and lesbians.[10][11] The works are also aimed at raising awareness of Native American heritage and culture, while breaking down stereotypes.[12] Chrystos self-illustrated many of the covers, and usually had the books published in Canada to work around censorious American publishers and "very little support for writers" in the United States.[13]

While they are better known for their poems about social justice, Chrystos also has a significant body of erotic poetry. This work has been called "delicious reading" [14] and adopts a celebratory tone, in contrast to the darker themes in their other work. They co-edited Best Lesbian Erotica 1999 with Tristan Taormino.

Chrystos' awards and honors include a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the Human Rights Freedom of Expression Award, the Sappho Award of Distinction from the Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, a Barbara Deming Grant, and the Audre Lorde International Poetry Competition.[12]

Chrystos' activism has focused on efforts to free Norma Jean Croy and Leonard Peltier, and the rights of tribes such as the Diné (Navajo) and Mohawk people.[4][15] In a 2010 interview with Black Coffee Poet,[16] Chrystos described their social justice interests as "diverse," citing abortion, wife-battering, and prisoner issues, although they acknowledge these issues are of "no immediate benefit" to them.

Bibliography

  • This Bridge Called My Back (anthology) Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, 1981; contributor
  • Not Vanishing, Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers, 1988, ISBN 0-88974-015-1
  • Dream On, Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers, 1991
  • In Her I Am, Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers, 1993
  • Fugitive Colors, Cleveland: Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 1995, ISBN 1-880834-11-1
  • Fire Power, Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0-88974-047-X
  • Some Poems by People I Like (anthology of 5 poets; Sandra Alland, editor) Toronto: SandrasLittleBookshop, 2007, ISBN 978-0-9739540-1-2; contributor
  • Best Lesbian Erotica 1999, Cleis Press, 1999, ISBN 1573440493; co-editor

See also

References

  1. ^ Valimaa, Virpi Maria Kristiina; Curtright, Lauren (1997). "Chrystos". Voices from the Gap.
  2. ^ "Urban Survivor Stories: The Poetry of Chrystos". Studies in American Indian Literatures. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  3. ^ "Chrystos". PoetryFoundation.org. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Chrystos: biography", Voices from the Gaps, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts, retrieved January 25, 2012
  5. ^ a b Brehm, Victoria (1998). "Urban Survivor Stories: The Poetry of Chrystos". Studies in American Indian Literatures. 10 (1): 73–82. ISSN 0730-3238. JSTOR 20739440.
  6. ^ "Chrystos — Making Queer History".
  7. ^ Chrystos (1988). Not Vanishing. Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers.
  8. ^ Chrystos (1988). Not Vanishing. Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers. p. 103.
  9. ^ Stone, Martha E. (September 22, 2004). "Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America". Reference & User Services Quarterly. 44 (1): 84–86.
  10. ^ Chrystos (1988). Not Vanishing. Vancouver: Press Gang Publishers. p. 106.
  11. ^ Sorrel, Lorraine, "Not Vanishing", review in Off Our Backs. Washington: March 31, 1989. Vol. 19, No. 3.
  12. ^ a b "12 Incredible Indigenous LGBTQ Women and Two-spirit People You Should Know". Autostraddle. October 12, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  13. ^ "Interview With Chrystos". Black Coffee Poet. September 15, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  14. ^ "Chrystos | The Audre Lorde Project". February 20, 2012.
  15. ^ , Bainbridge Public Library, March 26, 2011, archived from the original on January 19, 2012, retrieved January 25, 2012
  16. ^ "Interview With Chrystos". Black Coffee Poet. September 15, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  • Bealy, Joanne. "An Interview with Chrystos"; Off Our Backs, Vol. 33, September 2003, p. 11
  • E. Centime Zeleke. "Speaking about Language". Canadian Woman Studies, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1996, pp. 33–35.
  • Retter, Yolanda. "Chrystos". Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered History in America, Vol. 1. Edited by Marc Stein. Detroit: Scribner's; 2004, pp. 214–215,
  • "Chrystos", biographical entry at the Voices in the Gaps database of the University of Minnesota; 2009. (PDF download from the target page.)

External links

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Chrystos.

March 03, 2023
chrystos, confused, with, christos, disambiguation, born, november, 1946, christina, smith, writer, activist, published, various, books, poems, that, explore, indigenous, americans, civil, rights, social, justice, feminism, they, identify, menominee, spirit, e. Not to be confused with Christos disambiguation Chrystos ˈ k r ɪ s t oʊ s born November 7 1946 as Christina Smith 1 is a writer and activist who has published various books and poems that explore indigenous Americans s civil rights social justice and feminism They identify as Menominee and two spirit but are not enrolled in any tribe 2 3 Chrystos is also a lecturer writing teacher and fine artist The poet uses the pronouns they and them ChrystosBornChristina Smith 1946 11 07 November 7 1946 age 76 San Francisco California USANationalityMenomineeAmericanOccupationsWriter artist activist Contents 1 Life and career 2 Bibliography 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife and career EditChrystos a resident of Ocean Shores Washington since 2011 4 is a lesbian and two spirit identifying writer artist and activist Born off reservation in San Francisco California self identifying as an urban Indian 5 Chrystos was taught to read by a self educated father and began writing poetry at age nine Chrystos has written of a difficult emotional and abnormal childhood including sexual abuse by a relative 5 life with an abusive and depressed white mother of Lithuanian and Alsatian descent and a Menominee father who was a WW2 veteran At the age of seventeen Chrystos was placed into a mental institution They fell into drug addiction alcoholism and prostitution during this time They would be re institutionalized several more times before deciding it was ineffective in helping their mental health issues 6 A self described political poet Chrystos was inspired by familial angst stemming from European American cultural hegemony 7 and more positively influenced by the work of Audre Lorde Joy Harjo Elizabeth Woody and Lillian Pitt among others 8 to produce a series of volumes of poetry and prose throughout the 1980s and 1990s see bibliography below Chrystos work focuses on social justice issues such as how colonialism genocide class and gender affect the lives of women and Indigenous peoples 9 Much of the writer s childhood is evident in works about street life gardening mental institutions incest the Man authoritarian patriarchy love sex and hate The works are primarily intended for an audience of Native American First Nations people of color more broadly and lesbians 10 11 The works are also aimed at raising awareness of Native American heritage and culture while breaking down stereotypes 12 Chrystos self illustrated many of the covers and usually had the books published in Canada to work around censorious American publishers and very little support for writers in the United States 13 While they are better known for their poems about social justice Chrystos also has a significant body of erotic poetry This work has been called delicious reading 14 and adopts a celebratory tone in contrast to the darker themes in their other work They co edited Best Lesbian Erotica 1999 with Tristan Taormino Chrystos awards and honors include a National Endowment for the Arts grant the Human Rights Freedom of Expression Award the Sappho Award of Distinction from the Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice a Barbara Deming Grant and the Audre Lorde International Poetry Competition 12 Chrystos activism has focused on efforts to free Norma Jean Croy and Leonard Peltier and the rights of tribes such as the Dine Navajo and Mohawk people 4 15 In a 2010 interview with Black Coffee Poet 16 Chrystos described their social justice interests as diverse citing abortion wife battering and prisoner issues although they acknowledge these issues are of no immediate benefit to them Bibliography EditThis Bridge Called My Back anthology Kitchen Table Women of Color Press 1981 contributor Not Vanishing Vancouver Press Gang Publishers 1988 ISBN 0 88974 015 1 Dream On Vancouver Press Gang Publishers 1991 In Her I Am Vancouver Press Gang Publishers 1993 Fugitive Colors Cleveland Cleveland State University Poetry Center 1995 ISBN 1 880834 11 1 Fire Power Vancouver Press Gang Publishers 1995 ISBN 0 88974 047 X Some Poems by People I Like anthology of 5 poets Sandra Alland editor Toronto SandrasLittleBookshop 2007 ISBN 978 0 9739540 1 2 contributor Best Lesbian Erotica 1999 Cleis Press 1999 ISBN 1573440493 co editorSee also Edit Poetry portalNative American studies Lesbian poetryReferences Edit Valimaa Virpi Maria Kristiina Curtright Lauren 1997 Chrystos Voices from the Gap Urban Survivor Stories The Poetry of Chrystos Studies in American Indian Literatures Retrieved February 1 2023 Chrystos PoetryFoundation org Retrieved October 22 2015 a b Chrystos biography Voices from the Gaps University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts retrieved January 25 2012 a b Brehm Victoria 1998 Urban Survivor Stories The Poetry of Chrystos Studies in American Indian Literatures 10 1 73 82 ISSN 0730 3238 JSTOR 20739440 Chrystos Making Queer History Chrystos 1988 Not Vanishing Vancouver Press Gang Publishers Chrystos 1988 Not Vanishing Vancouver Press Gang Publishers p 103 Stone Martha E September 22 2004 Encyclopedia of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender History in America Reference amp User Services Quarterly 44 1 84 86 Chrystos 1988 Not Vanishing Vancouver Press Gang Publishers p 106 Sorrel Lorraine Not Vanishing review in Off Our Backs Washington March 31 1989 Vol 19 No 3 a b 12 Incredible Indigenous LGBTQ Women and Two spirit People You Should Know Autostraddle October 12 2015 Retrieved April 4 2016 Interview With Chrystos Black Coffee Poet September 15 2010 Retrieved May 1 2017 Chrystos The Audre Lorde Project February 20 2012 Local Authors Bainbridge Public Library March 26 2011 archived from the original on January 19 2012 retrieved January 25 2012 Interview With Chrystos Black Coffee Poet September 15 2010 Retrieved November 19 2021 Bealy Joanne An Interview with Chrystos Off Our Backs Vol 33 September 2003 p 11 E Centime Zeleke Speaking about Language Canadian Woman Studies Vol 16 No 2 1996 pp 33 35 Retter Yolanda Chrystos Encyclopedia of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered History in America Vol 1 Edited by Marc Stein Detroit Scribner s 2004 pp 214 215 Chrystos biographical entry at the Voices in the Gaps database of the University of Minnesota 2009 PDF download from the target page External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Chrystos Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chrystos amp oldid 1142083407, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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