Ocean Vuong

I still think about that. Like, we clocked out. We're not paid. The lights are off, save for the little fluorescent light by the sink. And we're sitting in this Boston market just holding vigil. For her and her brother. How can you? I mean, but I'm interested in that. I'm like, where does that kind of kindness come from? Where does it, who taught us that? It's like the elephants.

I still think about that. Like, we clocked out. We're not paid. The lights are off, save for the little fluorescent light by the sink. And we're sitting in this Boston market just holding vigil. For her and her brother. How can you? I mean, but I'm interested in that. I'm like, where does that kind of kindness come from? Where does it, who taught us that? It's like the elephants.

Every year they come back and they touch the bones of their dead. And the eldest gets to do it first and they form a line. And I'm like, what is it about our species that came with that?

Every year they come back and they touch the bones of their dead. And the eldest gets to do it first and they form a line. And I'm like, what is it about our species that came with that?

Every year they come back and they touch the bones of their dead. And the eldest gets to do it first and they form a line. And I'm like, what is it about our species that came with that?

That's it.

That's it.

That's it.

That's a better word for it, huh? Faith. There's so much faith required in doing something, knowing there's no guarantee that it will pay off. I mean... We're told in this country that you have to pull yourself from the bootstraps. Every man for himself, individualism. And yet, in the working poor communities, the black and brown communities that I grew up in, the generosity came first.

That's a better word for it, huh? Faith. There's so much faith required in doing something, knowing there's no guarantee that it will pay off. I mean... We're told in this country that you have to pull yourself from the bootstraps. Every man for himself, individualism. And yet, in the working poor communities, the black and brown communities that I grew up in, the generosity came first.

That's a better word for it, huh? Faith. There's so much faith required in doing something, knowing there's no guarantee that it will pay off. I mean... We're told in this country that you have to pull yourself from the bootstraps. Every man for himself, individualism. And yet, in the working poor communities, the black and brown communities that I grew up in, the generosity came first.

That sort of dog-eat-dog world was shameful. Class mobility has been really strange for me. I'm in these spaces where it's mostly upper middle class folks, academia, publishing. And I found like a totally different set of ethos. And values. And values. And that ricochet, I was never prepared for.

That sort of dog-eat-dog world was shameful. Class mobility has been really strange for me. I'm in these spaces where it's mostly upper middle class folks, academia, publishing. And I found like a totally different set of ethos. And values. And values. And that ricochet, I was never prepared for.

That sort of dog-eat-dog world was shameful. Class mobility has been really strange for me. I'm in these spaces where it's mostly upper middle class folks, academia, publishing. And I found like a totally different set of ethos. And values. And values. And that ricochet, I was never prepared for.

It is. But I prefer that they don't care. Oh, say more on that. Yeah. Because when I come home, I'm just one more. I'm just one more of the litter, you know. And also, here's another thing. Why should they care? Just because the New Yorker says what I do is valuable.

It is. But I prefer that they don't care. Oh, say more on that. Yeah. Because when I come home, I'm just one more. I'm just one more of the litter, you know. And also, here's another thing. Why should they care? Just because the New Yorker says what I do is valuable.

It is. But I prefer that they don't care. Oh, say more on that. Yeah. Because when I come home, I'm just one more. I'm just one more of the litter, you know. And also, here's another thing. Why should they care? Just because the New Yorker says what I do is valuable.

Just because Time Magazine or NYU or Yale says what I do is valuable, why should all of a sudden that value system be foisted on them? They never had time to read a book. My mother worked from 8 a.m., 8 p.m. If somebody walks in at 7.55, she has to do their nails. She's not leaving until 9.00. When do you read a book? If you can afford a $30 hardback, when do you read it?

Just because Time Magazine or NYU or Yale says what I do is valuable, why should all of a sudden that value system be foisted on them? They never had time to read a book. My mother worked from 8 a.m., 8 p.m. If somebody walks in at 7.55, she has to do their nails. She's not leaving until 9.00. When do you read a book? If you can afford a $30 hardback, when do you read it?

Just because Time Magazine or NYU or Yale says what I do is valuable, why should all of a sudden that value system be foisted on them? They never had time to read a book. My mother worked from 8 a.m., 8 p.m. If somebody walks in at 7.55, she has to do their nails. She's not leaving until 9.00. When do you read a book? If you can afford a $30 hardback, when do you read it?