Kym Ragusa facts for kids

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

Kym Ragusa's Early Life and Education

Kym Ragusa was born in Manhattan, New York. Her father was Italian-American, and her mother was African-American. Her grandparents on her father's side came from Messina, Italy. Her mother's family had a long history in the United States.

Kym spent her childhood in two places. She lived with her mother's parents in Harlem. She also stayed with her father's parents in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Kym went to public schools. Later, she earned a master's degree in Media from the New School for Social Research. She also studied creative writing at Hunter College. There, she learned from a famous 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 (1995) and Fuori/Outside (1997). Her other films include Demarcations, Threads of Memory, and Remembering the Triangle Fire.

In 2006, Kym wrote a book called The Skin Between Us: A Memoir of Race, Beauty, and Belonging. A memoir is a true story about someone's life. This book was a finalist for a special award in 2007. An Italian version of her book was published in 2008.

Kym's writing has also appeared in other books. These include The Milk of Almonds (2003) and Are Italians White? (2012).

Much of Kym Ragusa's work explores important ideas. She writes about what it means to belong and how people see themselves. She believes that no one's identity is simple or fixed. She thinks everyone's story is complex and shaped by history.

Kym has also taught writing and film studies. She has taught at Eugene Lang College and the City University of New York.

Awards and Recognitions for Kym Ragusa

Kym Ragusa has received several awards for her work:

• 1995: She won the Juror's Prize for her film Passing. This was at the Women in the Director's Chair festival.
• 1997: Her film Fuori/Outside won Best Video. This was at the South Bronx Film and Video Festival.
• 1999: She received a film fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts.
• 2007: Her book The Skin Between Us was a finalist for the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award.