Fellow Highlights

Not On My Resume: Caleb Gayle

July 17, 2022

Caleb Gayle, a 2017 Fellow, is an award-winning journalist who writes about race and identity. A professor at Northeastern University, he is a fellow at New America, PEN America, Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Studies, and a visiting scholar at New York University. In his new book, We Refuse to Forget, Caleb tells the extraordinary story of the Creek Nation, a Native tribe that two centuries ago both owned slaves and accepted Black people as full citizens. Caleb was born in New York to Jamaican immigrant parents.

Why did you (or your family) come to America? My family, like so many others, came to America in hopes of experiencing unbounded opportunity.

Which living New American do you most admire? I’d have to say it’s Jamaica Kincaid. Her diverse skill set for narrative treatment is inspiring—especially as a fellow Caribbean person.

What is your current state of mind? My current state of mind is, in a word, intense. Currently, I’m criss-crossing the country for my book tour. But at the same time, my state of mind epitomizes excitement to share the stories I’ve been working on for so long.

When was the last time you felt imposter syndrome? This morning? Haha. But in all seriousness, every time I’m asked to speak on a panel about literature or before every book event, I ask myself “am I capable of this?”

What is your greatest fear? My greatest fear is not being there for my family and friends.

If you could change careers and do anything, what would it be? I’d likely want to become a college and career counselor. I get a lot of joy working with my students at Northeastern. I can imagine “guidance counselor” being my retirement job (and maybe I’ll win the lottery and I can retire sooner rather than later haha).

What is your idea of a good life? Simply put: A good life is one in which I can be there for the ones I love.

What is the one habit that you can’t live without? I can’t write without blaring noises and distractions like music and television. It’s a habit I just can’t let go of.

What one piece of advice do you live by? Never be afraid of revision, not just on the page, but also revision of ideas, relationships, and more.

Who or what makes your heart beat faster when you think about them/it? Maybe it’s because we’re only one year into marriage but my wife sends my heart fluttering.

This interview was originally published in the June, 2022 issue of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships’ monthly Distance Traveled newsletter. Sign up to receive the latest issue here. ∎