history lesson by Jenzo DuQue
Associate editor Olivia Kingery on today’s bonus short: With a momentum that makes my knees a bit weak, DuQue takes us through layered histories that are both large scale and achingly personal. Hinged on a form that is both restless and deliberate, the listing quality makes me return to this piece again and a-g-a-i-n.
history lesson
the thing about catholic school is no one wants to talk about how Columbus left in chains frankly it’s embarrassing but already we get the monday off and who doesn’t like a four day week i mean look see the meek will inherit the earth and that’s why things went so well for indians they each got a cut of the pumpkin pie and cornucopia can you say it with me cornucopia c-o-r-n-u-c-o-p-i-a cornucopia can you use it in a sentence yes cesar please dazzle us ok this class is a cornucopia of bull shit
bull shit is not one of the things you can say haven’t we taught you better by now this is how you carry yourself this is how you dress to avoid confrontation this is how you address authority so as to avoid confrontation this is how you color nice and neat in between the lines this is how you sign your signature this is how you send a letter this is how you take a quiz this is how you take a test this is how you take a punishment this is how you take god’s grace this is how you ask god to save your soul this is how you burn energy this is how you run outside in circles until the world blurs around you and you can hear him right the singing and those textures in the air
it’s in the air across all frequencies indistinct chatter takes to the streets and what is it about rising temperatures and that lake effect flicker that makes them so restless dark skin flaring up in alleyways or under overpasses think of the westside riots and the beat of the national guard’s drum the hum of the El above us elevated track racket kraa kraa pops on the rooftops someone’s taking shots tune in tonight at 6:30 catch it live and by the toe and if he hollers if he hollers if he hollers well let im go
Jenzo DuQue was born into a Colombian community in Chicago and is based in Brooklyn. He received his MFA from Brooklyn College, where he served as an editor of The Brooklyn Review. Jenzo is a 2021 Periplus Fellow & 2021 Shenandoah Editorial Fellow whose writing has found homes in BOMB Magazine, One Story, and Joyland. His short story “The Rest of Us” was selected by Jesmyn Ward for The Best American Short Stories 2021. Read more at jenzoduque.com.
