--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Khairani Barokka is a writer, spoken-word…" description: "\"Khairani Barokka is a writer, spoken-word poet, visual artist and performer whose work has a strong vein of activism, particularly around disability, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/deborah-smith-13837_activism_khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word_1625498.jpg" --- # Khairani Barokka is a writer, spoken-word poet, visual… ![“Khairani Barokka is a writer, spoken-word poet, visual artist and performer whose work has a strong vein of activism, particularly around disability, but also how this intersects with, for example, issues of gender - she's campaigned for reproductive rights in her native Indonesian, and is…” quote by Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/deborah-smith-13837_activism_khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word_1625498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/deborah-smith-13837_activism_khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word_1625498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/deborah-smith-13837_activism_khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word_1625498.jpg) > “Khairani Barokka is a writer, spoken-word poet, visual artist and performer whose work has a strong vein of activism, particularly around disability, but also how this intersects with, for example, issues of gender - she's campaigned for reproductive rights in her native Indonesian, and is currently studying for a PhD in disability and visual cultures at Goldsmiths. She's written a feminist, environmentalist, anti-colonialist narrative poem, with tactile artwork and a Braille translation. How could I not publish that?” [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights Barokka’s multidisciplinary activism, merging disability advocacy with feminist, environmental, and anti‑colonial themes, and questions why such work isn’t published. **In simple terms:** Barokka blends art, poetry, and activism across many issues, yet her work remains unpublished. Key Takeaway Advocate for publishing inclusive, intersectional art. Themes activism disability feminism environment anti‑colonial intersectionality Mood determined hopeful critical Type inspirational advocacy analytical When to use this quote - literary journals - gallery exhibitions - online platforms - academic conferences - community workshops Key Concepts multidisciplinary art visual culture poetry braille translation academic research Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions better support intersectional artists? - What steps can creators take to increase visibility? A Different Perspective Publishing barriers may include limited market demand or accessibility challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artwork/) [Braille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/braille/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Disability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disability/) [Environmentalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmentalist/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reproductive rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproductive-rights/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Spoken word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoken-word/) [Translations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/translations/) [Visual art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual-art/) [Visual artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual-artist/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“I heard a famous author say once that the hardest part of writing a book was making yourself sit down at the typewriter. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-heard-a-famous-author-say-once-that-the-hardest-part-of-writing-a/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Written on the body is a secret code only visible in certain lights: the accumulations of a lifetime gather there. In places the palimpsest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/written-on-the-body-is-a-secret-code-only-visible-in-certain-lights/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [When I was 13, I started working in a nightclub with Ray Charles. That's the greatest school in the world, the school of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/when-i-was-13-i-started-working-in-a-nightclub-with-ray-charles-that/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Love wouldn't be blind if the Braille weren't so damned much fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/love-wouldn-t-be-blind-if-the-braille-weren-t-so-damned-much-fun/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [When I was young, we thought that Oscar Wilde was a great nobleman who had thrown his life away for love. Nothing could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/when-i-was-young-we-thought-that-oscar-wilde-was-a-great-nobleman-who/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [“I once gave my friend his braille book to him upside down and I got a punch in the shoulder. He was aiming for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-daswani/i-once-gave-my-friend-his-braille-book-to-him-upside-down-and-i-got-a/) [Haresh Daswani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-daswani/) > [I felt permanently exiled from 'normality.' Whether imposed by self or society, this outsider status - and not the disability itself - constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mairs/i-felt-permanently-exiled-from-normality-whether-imposed-by-self-or/) [Nancy Mairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mairs/) > [Effective use of Braille is as important to the blind as independent mobility, knowledge in the use of adaptive technology, and the core belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ney/effective-use-of-braille-is-as-important-to-the-blind-as-independent/) [Bob Ney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ney/) > [Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-braille/braille-is-knowledge-and-knowledge-is-power/) Louis Braille > [So I was at the gas station the other day, and I saw that there was braille on the pumps. I don't see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/so-i-was-at-the-gas-station-the-other-day-and-i-saw-that-there-was/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I once stole a pornographic book that was printed in braille. I used to rub the dirty parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-once-stole-a-pornographic-book-that-was-printed-in-braille-i-used/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Of course I read Braille, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/of-course-i-read-braille-yes/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [“If I had echolocation I could map out the terrain of ab muscles through sheer force of will. His cut body is meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-kent/if-i-had-echolocation-i-could-map-out-the-terrain-of-ab-muscles/) [Julia Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-kent/) > [Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/learning-to-read-music-in-braille-and-play-by-ear-helped-me-develop-a/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Deborah Smith > [Happy people look young. You’re really afraid of getting older, aren’t you? You should only be afraid of getting less happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/happy-people-look-young-you-re-really-afraid-of-getting-older-aren-t/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [“I buried my grief for my son, not my memories, but my grief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/i-buried-my-grief-for-my-son-not-my-memories-but-my-grief/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [I read The Vegetarian and fell in love with it. A year later, I was invited to go and speak at the London Book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/i-read-the-vegetarian-and-fell-in-love-with-it-a-year-later-i-was/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [A chorus of tough southern belles whispered, You need a loyal husband around here. Loyal to you, loyal to your family, loyal to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/a-chorus-of-tough-southern-belles-whispered-you-need-a-loyal-husband/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [Instead of fearing what might happen if I failed, I should be excited about what could happen if I succeeded!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/instead-of-fearing-what-might-happen-if-i-failed-i-should-be-excited/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [I suspected learning a language would be both useful and enjoyable (I love memorising lists of things), and would get rid of the embarrassment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/i-suspected-learning-a-language-would-be-both-useful-and-enjoyable-i/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [“A vida é fugaz. A vida é preciosa. Temos de gozar cada momento. A sensualidade de respirar, de sentir, de querer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/a-vida-fugaz-a-vida-preciosa-temos-de-gozar-cada-momento-a/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [“The best sex takes us somewhere. Somewhere warm and expansive, a paradise of lust and happiness. Sex is and can be and should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/the-best-sex-takes-us-somewhere-somewhere-warm-and-expansive-a/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [Possibly the best thing about the whole experience is that Kang and I are now really good friends. It's as much of a pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/possibly-the-best-thing-about-the-whole-experience-is-that-kang-and-i/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [I've translated two of Bae's novels, A Greater Music and Recitation, which are coming from Open Letter and Deep Vellum in October and January…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/i-ve-translated-two-of-bae-s-novels-a-greater-music-and-recitation/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [Simon Collinson, of digital publisher Canelo and über-cool Aussie mag The Lifted Brow, is our digital producer; Sarah Shin, Verso's comms director, is helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/simon-collinson-of-digital-publisher-canelo-and-ber-cool-aussie-mag/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [There's no linear narrative - the structure is more like a series of variations on a theme (how identity is shaped by language), with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/there-s-no-linear-narrative-the-structure-is-more-like-a-series-of/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [There’s something very freeing about losing the anchors that have always defined you. Frightening, sad, but exhilarating in a poignant way, as well. You’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/there-s-something-very-freeing-about-losing-the-anchors-that-have/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [Plus, publishing's inherent conservatism, means that what little did get through was weighted towards the commercial end of the scale, which is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/plus-publishing-s-inherent-conservatism-means-that-what-little-did/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [ Whenever I visit Korea she \[Kang\] buys me lunch and takes me to a gallery. As if all this wasn't enough, she has incredible… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/whenever-i-visit-korea-she-kang-buys-me-lunch-and-takes-me-to-a/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) [Explore all 47 Deborah Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) ## More Activism quotes > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“All struggles against oppression in the modern woeld begin by redefining what had previously been consideered private, non-public and non-political issues as matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyla-benhabib/all-struggles-against-oppression-in-the-modern-woeld-begin-by/) Seyla Benhabib > [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-ellis/paul-revere-earned-his-living-as-a-silversmith-but-what-do-we/) Susan J. Ellis > [Being in service and being involved in something that is greater than you is what makes a person complete and whole. The very first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/being-in-service-and-being-involved-in-something-that-is-greater-than/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [“The times do not call for grassroots political activism, as if the next election might be enough to reverse a massive cultural earthquake. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-miller/the-times-do-not-call-for-grassroots-political-activism-as-if-the/) Paul D. Miller > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. And maybe we can point to one or two historical times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/poetry-is-a-lousy-form-of-activism-it-doesn-t-really-change-much-and/) [Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/) > [There's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/there-s-a-lot-of-activism-that-doesn-t-deal-with-empowerment-and-you/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [“Until you find a cause you can die for, you are not worthy to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/until-you-find-a-cause-you-can-die-for-you-are-not-worthy-to-live/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Ya'll know what you need to do? Get together, make a We Are The World record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/ya-ll-know-what-you-need-to-do-get-together-make-a-we-are-the-world/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [“There is no way to tell if we are the pioneers of a visionary new age, whisking humanity into the high vibrations of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-talat-phillips/there-is-no-way-to-tell-if-we-are-the-pioneers-of-a-visionary-new-age/) [Jonathan Talat Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-talat-phillips/) > [Terence McKenna says, "The culture is not your friend." I am not sure we can change this culture. But I think we can rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/terence-mckenna-says-the-culture-is-not-your-friend-i-am-not-sure-we/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“A spirituality that is only private and self-absorbed, one devoid of an authentic political and social consciousness, does little to halt the suicidal juggernaut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-harvey/a-spirituality-that-is-only-private-and-self-absorbed-one-devoid-of/) [Andrew Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-harvey/) [Browse all 820 Activism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Khairani Barokka is a writer, spoken-word poet, visual artist and performer whose work has a strong vein of activism, particularly around disability, but also how this intersects with, for example, issues of gender - she's campaigned for reproductive rights in her native Indonesian, and is currently studying for a PhD in disability and visual cultures at Goldsmiths. She's written a feminist, environmentalist, anti-colonialist narrative poem, with tactile artwork and a Braille translation. How could I not publish that?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Deborah Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word-poet-visual-artist-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word-poet-visual-artist-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/deborah-smith-13837_activism_khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word_1625498.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/deborah-smith-13837_activism_khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word_1625498.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b65/deborah-smith-13837_activism_khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word_1625498.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Khairani Barokka is a writer, spoken-word poet, visual artist and performer whose work has a strong vein of…” — Deborah Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Deborah Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Khairani Barokka is a writer, spoken-word...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word-poet-visual-artist-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/khairani-barokka-is-a-writer-spoken-word-poet-visual-artist-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```