“Hi, I’m Suzanne, and I’m skeptical of white women.” Let me repeat that a little louder for the white women in the back—“I’m Suzanne, and I am skeptical of white women.” If you’re a white woman and still reading this, hooray! Most stop listening after hearing those words, so kudos to you. If you’re a … Continue reading The One Thing I Say That Pisses White Women Off
Forced Assimilation Is White-Washing, and I Won’t Be Complicit
I spend a whole lot of time talking about blackness. I talk about my blackness, my friends’ blackness, my family’s blackness, blackness in America, blackness as it relates to White America, blackness (or the lack thereof) in spiritual spaces—the list could go on for miles. Along with all this talk about blackness also comes the … Continue reading Forced Assimilation Is White-Washing, and I Won’t Be Complicit
Reparations Can Look Like Two Words: “I’m Sorry”
Last month, my white friend apologized for a crime she committed eighteen years ago. “Suzie,” she said, using the nickname given to me by my elementary school peers, “I often think about how I used to make a spectacle out of your hair. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for how that may … Continue reading Reparations Can Look Like Two Words: “I’m Sorry”
Dear Brother: You Too Are an Activist
Dear Brother, You have told me many, many times–and I’m sure you’ll tell me again–that you are not an activist. You wear the shirts I buy you, and you welcome the book recommendations, but you refuse to clothe yourself in the word “activist.” You refuse to burden yourself with this label. I see where you … Continue reading Dear Brother: You Too Are an Activist
Camping While Black: We Out Here
Not even five minutes upon pulling into the campground, there was a middle-aged white woman yelling at us. We passed by this woman and her group in what seemed like slow motion. She all but banged on our windows as she peered inside, yelling angrily into our vehicle. I couldn’t help but wonder if on … Continue reading Camping While Black: We Out Here
Avoidance vs. Self-Care: The Ethics of Trigger Warnings
Trigger (n): a stimulus such as a smell, sound, or sight that gives rise to feelings of trauma. I hate the local news. I hate learning stories of muggings and car crashes that happen in my city or in the cities of people I love. I hate turning on the television to see shocking headline after … Continue reading Avoidance vs. Self-Care: The Ethics of Trigger Warnings