Traditionally black women have always put everyone’s needs before their own and I think it’s time we discuss how we can mark World AIDS Day by starting a conversation about our health.
Embodying Our Ancestors: The Legacy of Blackness and Boricua Identity
I have always been black. The majority of my classmates and peers read me as black, and a part of me knew they weren’t wrong; but I had been conditioned to sigh, “No, I’m Puerto Rican.” My blackness was palpable before my understanding of it was.
5 Black Ass Shows To Get You Through The Thanksgiving Weekend
We’re all still reeling from the election, food comas and family dysfunction that took place over Thanksgiving. And while these feelings of sadness and memories of family craziness won’t dissipate anytime soon, I think it’s important we find some joy to get us through these tough times. Binge watch some black excellence! [Read more…]
Black, Educated, And Jobless: Here’s How One Woman Is Inspiring And Preparing Our College Graduates
I was a black woman with four degrees, the highest being a doctorate, and struggling with bouts of unemployment or underemployment years after graduation. I knew I wasn't the only one.
Just ReReleased In Theatres: Julie Dash’s ‘Daughters Of The Dust’
Twenty-five years ago, Julie Dash made history by becoming the first African-American woman to direct and produce a full-length feature film that was widely distributed in theaters across the country. The New York Times called it, "A film of spellbinding visual beauty." The film was "Daughters Of The Dust."
"These moments when artists can speak truth to power mean much more now than they have. It's about us continuing to elevate truth, trying to raise people's consciousness and not trying to divide people. "
We Need To Talk About Oppressive Ciscentric Beauty Standards And Passing Privilege
Appearance privilege has played a part in the realization of what exactly cis-hetero society accepts and rejects. For the safety of our trans community, it's imperative to break the chain. It's imperative to break traditional binary.
Struggle Love Is Real: How Some Black Music Normalizes Dysfunction In Relationships
From blues songs such as “No Good Man” by Nina Simone to “He’s Mine” by Mokenstef, black women have been sold a bill of goods that tells them pain is love.
Nate Parker and his movie brought out the hoteps in full force. The ankh wearing, shea butter deficient, black women blaming Ashy Dick Army, also known as hoteps, made sure that their voices were heard.
We've bowed, again, to patriarchy. Through inaction and silence, we've collectively told our sisters we cannot be trusted. All in the name of staying in the good graces of white men.
6 Ways To Stand In Active Solidarity With Our Trans Community
It is not the role of transgender people to teach cisgender people anything for free. Solidarity with the trans community is not a retweet, like or Facebook share. Solidarity is informed, intentional, recurring sustainable acts of service.
Black Lives Matter Means Trans Lives Matter: Why We Need To Address The Violence Against Black Trans Women
Tata Sanchez, was desperately seeking help as she pounded on the front door of a home in Compton, California in the early morning hours just before dawn. She was shot and killed. One moment Tata, a black trans woman, was here and the next she was not. Her life mattered.
Kesha, Sexual Assault And The Case Of White Feminism’s Convenient Racial Blind Spot
White feminism and those who live by it, fail to realize that while they will and often can experience sexism, many fail to acknowledge the racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and even trauma many women of color face.
The bae Lupita Nyong'o and bae Danai Gurira are working together to make some epic #BlackGirlMagic. Lupita is staring in the Broadway play entitled "Eclipsed" written by playwright Danai. (We'll allow you to pause to collect yourselves here...)
First and foremost, we must dispense of the notion that lighter skin is akin to whiteness. This is what I refer to as the "black, but not black-black" myth. It is imperative that we as a people unite to end colorism and this internalized racism within the black community.