Kym Ragusa facts for kids

Kym L. Ragusa, born on February 25, 1966, is an American writer and filmmaker. She makes documentary films and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Kym Ragusa's Early Life and Schooling

Kym Ragusa grew up in Manhattan, New York. Her dad was Italian-American, and her mom was African-American. Her grandparents on her dad's side came from Messina, Italy. Her mom's family had a history of being brought to the U.S. as slaves.

Kym spent her childhood living in different places. She stayed with her mom's parents in Harlem and her dad's parents in Maplewood, New Jersey. After going to public schools, Kym studied Media at the New School for Social Research. She earned a master's degree there. She also studied creative writing at Hunter College. There, she learned from a well-known writer named Louise DeSalvo.

Kym Ragusa's Career in Film and Writing

Kym Ragusa has directed several documentary films. Two of her short films won awards. These were Passing (made in 1995) and Fuori/Outside (made in 1997). Other films she directed include Demarcations, Threads of Memory, and Remembering the Triangle Fire.

Kym Ragusa's Books and Essays

Kym Ragusa wrote a memoir called The Skin Between Us: A Memoir of Race, Beauty, and Belonging. A memoir is a book about a part of someone's life. This book came out in 2006 and was praised by many critics. It was also a finalist for a special award in 2007, the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award.

An Italian version of her book was published in 2008. Kym's writing has also appeared in other books. These include collections of essays like The Milk of Almonds (2003) and Are Italians White? (2012).

Exploring Identity in Kym Ragusa's Work

Much of Kym Ragusa's work looks at ideas about who we are. She explores how our background and experiences shape our identity. She often writes about racial identity and feeling like you belong.

In one of her writings, Kym talks about how identity is not simple. She believes that "No identity is singular, clear-cut, fixed." This means that who we are is complex and always changing. It is shaped by our history and daily lives.

Kym Ragusa as a Teacher

Besides writing and making films, Kym Ragusa has also taught at colleges. She has taught writing and film studies. She has worked at Eugene Lang College and the City University of New York.

Awards and Recognition for Kym Ragusa

Kym Ragusa has received several awards for her work:

• 1995: Juror's Prize from Women in the Director's Chair for her film Passing.
• 1997: Best Video award at the South Bronx Film and Video Festival for Fuori/Outside.
• 1999: A film fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts.
• 2007: Finalist for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for her memoir, The Skin Between Us.