A collage of tweets from President Donald Trump, research, and personal reflections on Blackness and independence during the pandemic
Black Graduates Want Diplomas, Not Death Certificates
Black lives must matter before Black education can matter. My degrees won’t shield me from bullets if a cop feels threatened by my existence. They won’t have my back when a creep follows me around the block because my clothes were “asking for it.” My degrees are neither freedom papers nor get-out-of-jail-free cards. They are an acknowledgement of my survival from an institution that was not built for me.
Dear White People, This is What We Want You to Do
I don’t want you to feel at ease. I want you to know that you are the byproduct of a successful racist regime that has capitalized off of Black oppression and suppression for centuries. I want you to shed light on the corners of your subconscious you’ve glossed over for years. I want you to realize that being racist is more American than apple pie.
Colorism and the White Guilt in Light Skin Tears
It’s hard to talk about systems of oppression that we benefit from. Light skinned tears don’t belong in the conversation of colorism because you can’t benefit from and be a victim of the same form of oppression.
A Mother’s Love: a video essay
If a picture is worth a thousand words, than a video essay is worth about a million.
Productivity is the theft of play
The COVID-19 pandemic reinforces how leisure is an economic luxury. . Play Your Way through Quarantine
A Day of Milanese Meals
Here in Italy, when I think of food— I think of memories. I think of laughter. I think of conversations with friends that last late into the night.
Melanin in Milan: Finding My People Abroad
Being a Black student attending a predominantly white university, I’m used to being among a small handful of students of color within a student organization or the only Black person enrolled in a class. Within my academic specializations (Creative Writing and Opera Performance), there are even fewer Black students. Of course, I’ve been able to … Continue reading Melanin in Milan: Finding My People Abroad
Perfection not Required: Pre-Departure with Mental Illness
Imperfection, flexibility, and improvisation should be packed in everyone’s luggage.
Humans
Happy Independence Day (if you celebrate any sort of liberation today). I posted this essay (originally titled “On Humans”) on July 4, 2018. I’ve updated “Humans” to reflect statistical updates, new events, and my contemporary reflections. When I first wrote this, I hoped that we had already seen the worst. A year has passed, and … Continue reading Humans
