This Is Uncomfortable Hanif Abdurraqib on what it means to “make it”
Aug 22, 2024
Hanif Abdurraqib, an award-winning poet and cultural critic from Columbus, dives deep into what it truly means to 'make it' in a world rife with inequality. He candidly shares his own financial struggles, including a harrowing eviction experience, and the weight of moral judgments tied to success. The conversation shifts to the importance of community, the impact of grief on creativity, and redefining success beyond materialism. Hanif also emphasizes the power of storytelling to celebrate resilience in marginalized communities.
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Sleeping In A Storage Unit After Eviction
- Hanif lived in a storage unit after eviction, sneaking in to sleep while keeping it secret from friends and family.
- He hid using a gym membership to shower and described how rebuilding life after eviction is prolonged and difficult.
Theft As Survival In His 20s
- Hanif spent much of his early to mid-20s in and out of county jail for theft driven by financial need.
- He framed those actions as survival strategies tied to lacking resources and feeling excluded from peers.
Access, Not Moral Redemption, Explains Change
- Hanif resists the 'bad kid becomes good' narrative and instead credits increased access to resources for changes in behavior.
- He argues behaviors are shaped by material access, not simple moral binaries.