How I Confronted My Internalized Anti-Blackness as a Queer Black Man October 28, 2019 by Maximillian Matthews Leave a Comment Desire, oooh like fire... come on, baby, light my fire I used to lip sync for my life with these lyrics when I was a boy. I had no idea what En Vogue was referring to when they sang “Desire,” but that never stopped me from getting into the song. You could say En Vogue was my introduction to the concept of desire. I felt desire for the first time years later as a teenager. My … [Read more...]
How I Came To Honor My “Too Black” Name as a Black, Queer, Fat Woman September 14, 2019 by Quita Tinsley Leave a Comment As a Black, queer, fat woman, I’m constantly aware of how I navigate most spaces. I’m constantly determining whether I can talk about my girlfriend. I’m constantly wondering whether I can eat what and how I want. And I’m constantly aware of how I’m speaking, from my tone to the words that I’m saying. Sometimes, these concerns come from a place of determining my safety. One … [Read more...]
Black and Brown Solidarity Post-9/11: Why I Refuse To Engage in Respectability Politics June 28, 2019 by Toni Bell 3 Comments I used to engage in respectability politics. I was taught that, if I proved I was of "good character,” I would be accepted by white society. I learned that it was my job to convince overtly and covertly racist white people that I was okay. I needed to make myself less threatening to shift their conscious and unconscious racist views and thereby make my life better. I was … [Read more...]
On the Edge[s] of Glory: 3 Questions About Gabby Douglas and the Hair Shaming Olympics August 25, 2016 by Palmira Muniz Leave a Comment There is no doubt that Black women from all over turned the 2016 Summer Rio Olympics upside its head and further solidified that Black girls are in fact, magic. From the Simones, to Brianna Rollins. Similar to the contestants, Black communities from all over have been supportive of their representative athletes...well, some communities more than others. Gabby Douglas is the … [Read more...]
Immigration Olympics?: Why Immigrants Don’t Have to Be Superheroes to Deserve Respect or Access August 21, 2016 by Dawy Rkasnuam Leave a Comment In mainstream liberal media, there’s no shortage of stories about heroic immigrants who rescue people from burning buildings or save their classmates during a school shooting. We applaud these people for their acts of bravery and compassion, and more often than not, we share their stories as examples of why immigrants are great for our community. Coming from an immigrant … [Read more...]
