Reader of the Week: Javacia N. Harris
The genius behind the media, music, and mayhem blog: Georgia Mae
By Kirsten Kilponen
Published: April 20th, 2009 | 12:00am
Our newest member to the Reader of the Week crew comes from “Derby City,” a.k.a., Louisville, Kentucky. The down-to-earth, 28-year-old could care less about putting on an irrationally-large, embellished hat to go watch horses run in circles at one of Kentucky’s famous races and instead utilizes her town to inspire her expanding mind while she writes for her snarky, super-friendly, feminist web site, Georgia Mae. Listen up as Ms. Harris tells us what it’s like working with her husband on a women’s issues focused blog, her secret to finding the best cupcakes all of Kentuckiana, and her uncontrollable need to dance. She also reveals to us the mystery of the real Georgia Mae.
Have you always lived in Louisville?
I've lived in Louisville for almost four years now. I came here from Berkeley, Calif. where I got an expensive master's degree in journalism that's not doing me much good in this recession. I've also lived in Seattle, which is an amazing and inspiring city. But I was born and bred in Birmingham, AL. I'm a real Southern girl, which means I want my tea sweet and my breakfast served with grits.
What is the meaning behind the name Georgia Mae?
Georgia Mae was my grandmother's name. We were very close. She did a lot of work in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham and she was a woman with incredibly strong faith. She truly inspires me.
Who is the audience for your blog?
Georgia Mae is for outspoken feminists and people who are feminists but don't know it yet. It's mostly geared toward passionate, driven women who want to change the status quo, but I think it's important to reach out to men, too. We're all in this together and if we're going to make this world a better place for women and girls we need men to take up the cause, too.
What issues/topics/things do you usually cover?
I like to discuss issues in pop culture, politics and media, but in a down-to-earth, approachable way. I often write about body image issues, how women are portrayed in the media, and race matters as well. But I'll occasionally dabble in topics like sex, relationships, and religion. Urban music is also a huge part of the blog.
Your husband also works on your blog with you! What do you think about the stereotype that men can't be feminists?
My husband is Georgia Mae's resident man blogger and music guru. He's like an urban music encyclopedia, and he's one of the smartest, funniest, wittiest people I know. He adds so much to the blog and readers really dig his snarky posts. Believe it or not, it's made us closer. My dream is that one day we'll be able to blog for a living and work at home together in our pajamas. I think it's completely ridiculous to say a man can't be a feminist. In fact, I mostly credit my father for my girl power, pro-woman attitude. As a girl he encouraged me to be independent and strong and convinced me I could do and be anything I wanted.
Are there any issues that you really want to cover that you haven't yet?
I want to get more into issues of female sexual power — how we define it and how we achieve it. I was fortunate enough to have an essay published in the recently released book Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World without Rape, which was edited by Jaclyn Friedman and Feministing.com founder Jessica Valenti.
What are your favorite things to do and favorite places to go in Louisville?
Dancing is my absolute favorite past time. I love it all — from ballet to belly dance, from Latin dance to liturgical, from hip-hop to country line dancing. Turn on some music and I will move. Louisville is a wonderful place. The neighborhood known as “the Highlands” is the place to be. That's where all the artsy, hipster, cool kids hang out. Louisville has such great locally owned restaurants it's hard to pick one. If you have a sweet tooth like me, you must check out The Cupcake Shoppe and Graeter's Ice Cream.
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Check out www.georgiamae.com.
Check
out the book Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape
Issue #35
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