Catherine Gigante-Brown

Catherine Gigante-Brown

Bio

Catherine Gigante-Brown is a freelance writer of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Her works have appeared in Time Out New York, Essence and Seventeen. She co-wrote two biographies for Prometheus Books and her short stories appear in fiction anthologies. Catherine’s first novel, The El, is available from Volossal Publishing. You can learn more about her on her website.

Catherine Gigante-Brown Articles

new life, old traditions.

Postpartum Practices Worldwide: How The World Takes Care Of Moms And Babies

Although America’s “lying in period” fell by the wayside in the 19th century with the disappearance of the frontier, it’s alive and well today in many cultures globally. Seclusion traditions where both mother and child recover and bond are still the norm in many cultures worldwide.

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Fighting Cancer On My Terms

"I was afraid this thing was going to do me in. But I took a deep breath and decided very early on that I would face cancer on my own terms."

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How I Learned To Love My Son For What He Is (Despite What He's Not)

Why do we venerate individuality in adults but condemn it in children?

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Catherine and Stephen (top left) with their fellow cousins

Remembering Stephen: Love, Loss, And AIDS

What Stephen didn’t know –– what no one knew –– was how weak my knees grew when I pushed through the swinging doors of the ICU.

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The writer, middle, with her friends Maureen and Janet

Why Do I Get To Be "Cancer Girl"?

If the odds of getting cancer are like Powerball, why couldn't I be a scratch-off millionaire?

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People come in many shades

Earthtones: Proposing A New Way Of Seeing Race

Instead of categorizing people as different colors, I proposed we might begin to think of each other as Earthtones—because our skin colors are based on hues from the earth. Just as the planet is made up of a myriad of shades, it’s still one cohesive entity. We can be thought of as one entity also.

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What I Learned About Poetry From My Professor, Audre Lorde

I was 21 –– a Catholic, heterosexual college student, living at home in Brooklyn and still trying to discover who I was. At the crossroads of her life, Lorde knew exactly who she was. She was waging a war against cancer and sharing an old house in Staten Island with her kids and partner. But maybe we weren’t so different after all.

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On Aging Gracefully... Sort Of

Wrinkles or lifelines? Chunky or curvaceous? The choice is yours.

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10 Ways To Make It Through Your Son's Teen Years...Without Killing Each Other

"Remember, this isn’t just happening to you, it’s happening to moms everywhere. It’s not your fault — "

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