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 …

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 …

6 Kinds Of Decent Guys Who Don’t Deserve An Award

Forgive me, Feminist Idols, for I have sinned. This summer I started watching The Bachelorette. To be fair, at least it’s not The Bachelor… but still. What screams “Post Breakup Therapy” more than making a fantasy spread sheet objectifying men I’ve never met and rooting for a girl who just got dumped by her fiancé? …

Self-Care doesn’t mean Careless

I’m not a control freak. I just have very particular standards… and if my standards aren't met, I kinda freak out. And by freak out, I mean I unconsciously pull out my hair.  So yeah, I have control problems. BUT DOESN’T ANY BLACK WOMAN WHO’S TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD HAVE CONTROL …