#investigative journalism

Self-Made Man: My Year Disguised as a Man is a 2006 book written by journalist Norah Vincent, recounting an 18-month experiment in which she disguised herself as a man—"Ned"—and then integrated into traditionally male-only venues, such as a bowling league, a monastery, and a men’s support group. She also described her experiences as a man in the workplace, in strip clubs, and on dates with women.

In order to effectively pose as a male, Vincent acquired a buzz cut and flattened her chest using a sports bra. She also hired a makeup artist to fake a five o'clock shadow and trained for months to imitate a deeper male voice.

Near the end of the experiment, Norah Vincent had a mental breakdown, and had to check herself into an institution for depression.

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Nellie Bly was one of the first investigative journalists. Click to read the full fact.

This is the aim of C.D. Wright’s One Big Self, an incredible book of poetry that also functions as a sort of investigative journalism. In some ways, I read this book before I was ready to read this book; in others, I read this book exactly when I needed.

It was difficult to hear of Wright’s passing yesterday. She was legendary in my home state of Arkansas, which was her birth state and where she studied. What Arkansas poet was not moved by her work? By Lost Roads or Frank Stanford, to both of which she is inextricably tied?

Sitting with her words and the thought of her absence this morning /  a few lines from One Big Self:

“All you posses is your soul whose mold you already deformed.”

“An eye for an eye          it says in Exodus / Whose eye?”

“The air is foul. The dirt is gumbo. Avoid all physical contact. Come nightfall the bugs will carry you off.”

“No condoms for the heart”

#YEARSproject and The Center for Public Integrity bring you this new series about what #BigOilKnew. 

See the rest of the series here: http://yearsoflivingdangerously.com/learn/news/big-oil-knew/