University of Michigan Professor, musician and artist Aaron P. Dworkin’s new book “Lessons In Gratitude: A Memoir on Race, the Arts, and Mental Health” was released on August 14 by the University of Michigan Press.
Dworkin is a Professor of Arts Leadership and Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan.
“This book tells my story — that of a social entrepreneur, “poetjournalist” (sic) and artist who has dedicated his life’s work to social justice and the arts,” Dworkin said. “It tells the story of persistence, passion, loyalty…and a lifelong search for identity. It tells the tale of the obstacles of race, culture, class, and adoption. This narrative is painfully honest, and it is one I needed to tell as a biracial adoptee who is Black, White, Jewish, Irish Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness who grew up playing the violin and ended up dedicating his life to the arts and representation.”
Another important aspect of the memoir is the concept of mental health, which not only connects to Dworkin but to many others now in our society.
“It (mental health) is an aspect of my story that speaks to vulnerability,” Dworkin said. “It is humbling to tell stories of loss, turmoil and need. My hope was that this aspect of my narrative might resonate with many others, defying the stigma we all continue to face in this aspect of our public perception.”
In addition to being a distinguished professor at the University of Michigan, Dworkin is a creative producing artist, musician, and artistic facilitator for others as well.
“I am also a ‘poetjournalist’ (sic) for my own creative practice, as well as Host of Arts Engines –a unique online and television show—since 2000,” said Dworkin. “I founded the Sphinx Organization in 1996 and continue serving as its Founder.”
The Sphinx organization, based in Detroit, is “dedicated to transforming lives through the power of the arts.” It is also focused on increasing diverse representation and cultivating excellence.
Dworkin states that his heritage and background as a biracial person being adopted by a white Jewish couple has shaped who he is today.
“In many ways, it (his background) gave me a unique perspective on divergent cultures and ways of thinking,” Dworkin said. “As an adoptee, I sought to belong, to understand and contextualize my identity. As a biracial boy growing up in vastly different geographic and social locations, I had a long journey of understanding my color, how it impacts the perception of me by others, and what the world thought me to be capable of becoming. Then, after a lifelong search, I was fortunate to find and meet my biological parents. I was to learn that they eventually got married and raised my full sister, whom I adore and with whom I share a profound sense of connection, despite not meeting her until my thirties. Growing up in a household that was atheist though culturally Jewish, I got to experience some of those traditions, which helped shape my identity, as well — both of my boys attended the Jewish Community Center, which shaped their development in beautiful ways. My background offered me a uniquely kaleidoscopic window into the world. I continue to look through it today and believe that my ongoing journey has yet more to teach and uncover for me.”
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Dworkin believes wholeheartedly that diversity is a vital strength in our country.
“It is my belief that including divergent perspectives and inviting everyone to the table can only lead to excellence, innovation, and ultimately, to a thriving society,” Dworkin said. “When we do not intentionally include the voices that do not resemble our own, we lose the opportunity to gain broader perspectives, to challenge what we know and to have a more well-rounded, better-informed environment. I believe that to be critically important as we strive to grow and evolve and as we look to assess the type of a world we are building for our younger generations.”
The concept of “DEI” or “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” is often met with varying reactions, but these concepts connected with the arts can often bring opportunities for bridging divides.
“I think that as human beings, we are on a continuous journey,” Dworkin said. “We are naturally susceptible to the changes in the world around us. We react, we follow trends, we respond to calls to action, and we seek to find that which best reflects our philosophical views and beliefs. Terminologies tend to come, go, evolve, be erased, and so on. At the moment, I think a number of people react to what feels to them to be a sense of otherness, difference, extreme uncertainty and possibly the fear of the unknown, of what lies ahead. I think the arts can be a powerfully uniting medium at this time of uncertainty. The arts call for excellence spoken through a common language. They bring us together and offer healing as well as a sense of hope for understanding.”
The arts organization Sphinx is also an important part of Dworkin’s world.
“Sphinx, in many central ways, is my life’s work,” Dworkin said. “It is an organization I founded in 1996 while an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan. Its mission is transforming lives through the power of the arts. Today it is run by Afa Dworkin, its President and Artistic Director. Focused on increasing representation in classical music and celebrating excellence, Sphinx programs serve beginner students, seasoned classical music professionals, cultural entrepreneurs and administrators. Based in Detroit, Michigan, but with global reach, Sphinx envisions a day where every young person has the opportunity to express themselves and learn classical music, where audiences reflect the people we see on our streets, and where leadership — on stage and off — includes all deserving voices. Our work transforms lives by addressing the systemic lack of access within Black and Latino communities. We are working toward a future in which our art form reflects our greater society.”
Dworkin thinks artists can lead the way in our society because art, music, community and humanity are inextricably linked.
“Artists have led societies since the beginning of time,” Dworkin said. “Music has accompanied many major occasions marking moments throughout our history: wars, coronations, rituals and ceremonies that allow us to experience the present and feel inspired to be something more than just ourselves. The arts tell the stories of our times, of the past, the future, and help unite people. The arts chronicle history in a manner that I feel is timeless and boundless. Beyond the performing and visual arts, where I have built my practice heretofore, today, I am exploring poetjournalism. This is a discipline, a medium I have originated, that I feel was born in response to the times in which we live. Poetjournalism seeks to explore how the emotive force of poetry and the informative power of journalism can converge to create a more informed and more empathetic society. I believe the arts will lead us there in more ways than we recognize today.”
Dworkin concluded that his book and his personal story describe many of these ideas is personal detail that can enlighten and even help others.
“My story is meant to encourage, resonate and hopefully offer hope,” Dwokin said. “It is my desire to see this empower young people who may be searching for ways to belong, to stand out, to find themselves.”
Dwokin continued, “For those inspired to learn more about my creative practice, I do want to encourage them to join my Patreon community at this link and if you’re interested in reading my book, you can check it out here.”
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Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
