I woke up this morning to what some would call a “bad dream.” Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. There were a lot of supposed surprises this time around, but the biggest one would be the shock from mainly whites who thought America was “better than this.” As an African American, I should and have to celebrate progress, if only for my ... Read More
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I have that feeling again. It's a feeling of overwhelming emotions, thoughts and questions. Then again, I also feel nothing because neither my head nor heart can comprehend the last 48 hours well. How do you express loss, anger, confusion on paper? What do you do to help when you feel helpless? This feeling is reminiscent of the day George Zimmerman was found not guilty for ... Read More
Social Media’s Problem With Privacy
In an interview with Financial Times, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, powerhouse scholar, author and feminist, casually revealed that she’d had a baby by turning down a cocktail due to breastfeeding. Wait…She had a baby?! And she didnt tell us? (us = random strangers who are fans) *clutches pearls* Adichie says she didn’t want to “perform pregnancy,” meaning have a very public ... Read More
Distractions Delay Progress
Hey, black people, come close. Let’s chat. You know I love us, right? So that means I have to be honest with you. The truth is we worry about the WRONG things. Just when thought Beyonce’ and Kendrick’s performance of “Freedom” had given us the biggest dose of black power and pride for the night during the BET Awards, Jesse Williams made an acceptance speech for the books ... Read More
EBONY and Why Black Media Must Have Staying Power
EBONY is still here, y’all. And I’m glad. Not because my byline has been inked on their pages or because Johnson Publishing Company signs a few checks that come way. I’m thankful because that magazine matters. Before I was a writer, I was a reader. For forever, I’ve been consumed by magazines geared towards African Americans, cherishing them for as long as we’ve had ... Read More