I Spent a Majority of Yesterday Reading and Making Recommendations for a Scholar in South Sudan. It Feels Good to Be Asked to Help Out

In 2011, when I worked on my dissertation, Alfred Tatum recommended not to go ahistorical. "Know the history, capture the story, share the truth as it can be discovered." A portion of my work included Sudanese youth, and learning as much of Sudan's history was part of the discovery. It helped me to make sense of the world the young men were living in the United States, even if much of that history has gone unrecorded.

Yesterday, Karal was patient as I read a 258-page dissertation exploring the possibility of making southern Sudan a federal constitution nation. The scholar did his homework, drawing on numerous events throughout history to get to the place where his work is situated today. It is extremely complicated scholarship, and I can't pretend to know the vast majority of what was being articulated, but I could learn and ask questions where necessary. I also realized how complicated such a task is, especially when a nation exploited throughout history by Western nations is given the task to figure out a democracy that works best for them.

Thank goodness for the Euro-Cup, as Karal was enthralled by watching the t.v. (enough so that I sent photos to Abu and Lossine to say, "See what you've done to my dog"). It kept her entertained, and gave me the space I needed to read.

The game and editing also kept my mind away from CNY, although that is where it was all day, as my father got sick and had to be brought to St. Joe's for assistance (he waits until I leave to pull such a stunt - he was fine while home, although he possibly ate too many donuts and had too much fun at Chubby's). 

I was seriously honored to be asked to review this scholar's manuscript, and couldn't say, "no," as he was/is a Binghamton alumni, too. Once I found this out, I knew I was in, even if I contemplated the commitment against my other work. 

The world is vast, but small. I figured, if I could help this young man out in the slightest, it was time well-invested. It might even be historical.

Besides, his work got my brain working in numerous ways, especially with how one moves the needle when living in a nation that doesn't have the Western traditions of academia like we do. I learned when I did my part that spending all my time in the library only opened up so many windows. I needed to rely on news reports, oral history, and piecing the puzzle together. It was detective work...dedicated, focuses detective work (with many, many stones to turn over)

Such was the case of his huge endeavor, too. He should be proud, but PHEW! That was a day.

Onward.