Get on the ground
The power of parties “Get on the ground,” my friend and neighbor Odell Irby often says, referring to the importance of in person encounters. And he means it. Frequently sitting on the corner in front of his house, Odell knows all … Continue reading Get on the ground
Shakespeare and Stumptown
Embracing multiple truths is not easy in a culture that prefers binaries, that tends to simplify complex realities into good/bad, right/wrong, etc. Yet multiple truths exist. We find them woven throughout the story of the Montford Park Players and their … Continue reading Shakespeare and Stumptown
What happened to Hill Street?
Hill Street was a historically Black neighborhood in Asheville. Have you heard of it? Likely not. Its story, like the homes which once stood there, has been lost. It’s a story I’ve been studying deeply, wanting to fill in as … Continue reading What happened to Hill Street?
Clear cutting and change
My everything aches when I remember that, “by 1908, around 86 percent of forested acres in the Southern Appalachian Mountains was classified as recently harvested or in young regrowth stages of development” (Ecoforesters.org). The scope of this extraction astounds. And, … Continue reading Clear cutting and change
Numbers vs. narratives
The onset of the pandemic and quarantine in 2020 inspired a deeper awareness of my relationship with my neighborhood, leading me to extensively research its history. On the land of the Anigiduwagi (Cherokee) is Asheville’s census tracts 2 and 3, … Continue reading Numbers vs. narratives
Mooseman’s Records
A few years ago, our friend Damion “DJ Supaman” Smith called to see if my sweetie Jason Krekel could take some boxes of records that were his father’s, Cleo “Mooseman” Shivers. He did not have room in his apartment, and … Continue reading Mooseman’s Records
my own oppression
Recently I was returned to a felt sense of my own oppression. Through intentional choices and good fortune, I’ve finally been able to shape my life so the majority of my interactions are with people I trust. Connecting with an … Continue reading my own oppression
Montford & Stumptown Stories
When I last wrote, it was wonderings on water. Today, I am examining earth; specifically the patch of soil upon which I live. The rooted love I feel here. My spirit holds so many stories of this place, stories I’ve … Continue reading Montford & Stumptown Stories
Sinkhole revelations
My mind keeps drifting to the big sinkhole on the corner of Montford Ave and E. Waneta. As I understand it, water has long flowed through that area. My heart throbs in a particular way as I picture the spot … Continue reading Sinkhole revelations
Grief and gratitude
This year I’ve spent a lot of time walking around my neighborhood crying. The more I research the history of the place where I live, the more pain and loss I uncover. Processing that pain has become a central part … Continue reading Grief and gratitude
Ami Worthen 