Translator to Translator: Translating as Activism and Care
Melody Makeda Ledwon in conversation with Jon Cho-Polizzi
Translators Melody Makeda Ledwon and Jon Cho-Polizzi discuss Melody’s work as a multidirectional literary translator, the myths of so-called ‘native-speaker’ authority, and the power of translation in the context of minority literatures. Melody is co-translator of a recent retranslation into German of Angela Davis’ renowned 1974 Autobiography, and a prolific multidirectional translator focusing on Afrodiasporic literature. The conversation will examine translation as activism and care work and the importance of both cultural and linguistic competence in the context of multidirectional translation. They will also discuss Melody’s award-winning and ongoing translation of Simoné Goldschmidt-Lechner’s Knives, Tongues (Messer, Zungen).
About Translator to Translator
Translator to Translator is a translator-curated event series at CAT featuring conversations about the intersections of literature, activism, and identity.
This event series places the Center for the Art of Translation’s (CAT’s) public programming resources directly into the hands of translators, empowering them to curate provocative and timely conversations about language, global literature, and the art of translation. By inviting guest curators to shape our programming, we are creating a space for dream interviews, deep investigations, and fresh perspectives on the work we love.
This series is designed to strengthen our translator community and bring new voices into the discussion. Whether you are a translator, an author, or simply an avid reader, we invite you to join us.
Our first curator is Jon Cho-Polizzi , a translator and scholar whose work focuses on bringing the many voices and backgrounds represented in the contemporary German literary scene to English-speaking readers.
For his curated series, Jon has invited four translators whose work speaks directly to the intersections of literature, activism, and identity: Aaron Coleman, Melody Makeda Ledwon, Mona Kareem, and Anton Hur. These conversations explore how translation acts as a vital tool for decolonization, cultural exchange, and the reclamation of diverse narratives across borders.
Jon Cho-Polizzi is a literary translator and Assistant Professor of German at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He grew up on the Mendocino Coast and studied Literature, History, and Translation at UC Santa Cruz and Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg before relocating to the East Bay, where he completed a concurrent PhD in German and Medieval Studies at UC Berkeley. His translation works highlight the radical diversity of contemporary German-language literature, with a focus on the Berlin literary scene. Recent book-length translations include Fatma Aydemir’s Djinns, Sharon Dodua Otoo’s Ada’s Realm (which was long-listed for the Dublin Literary Award), and Max Czollek’s De-Integrate: A Jewish Survival Guide for the 21st Century for which he was awarded the 2024 Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator’s Prize. Jon splits his time living and working between Michigan, Northern California, and Berlin.
Melody Makeda Ledwon (she/her) is a translator, interpreter, editor and educator working in German and English. She is a Fiction Editor at SAND Journal and holds a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies and Sociology from Hunter College and a master’s degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis. Her work explores multilingual, feminist, and Afrodiasporic stories, with translations published by S. Fischer Verlage, Penguin Random House, Aki Verlag, Mousse Magazine, and TRANSIT. She has interpreted for institutions, including Akademie der Künste, Diversity Arts Culture, and Initiative of Black People in Germany. In 2020, she founded the Black Translators’ Network, a platform for Black translators in Germany and beyond. Melody is the recipient of the 2025 Words Without Borders Momentum Grant. She is currently working on the translation of Messer, Zungen (Knives, Tongues) by Simoné Goldschmidt-Lechner. Excerpts from this work have appeared in World Literature Today, The Common and Words Without Borders in 2025 and 2026. Photo credit: Yaro Adugna