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Emma Akpan
Emma Akpan

83 Followers

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Aug 25, 2021

Stuff

My mother didn’t throw things away. We hadn’t discovered The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and how you have to throw out things to make space. We simply shifted our detritus around. Putting things away meant nothing to the inhabitants of the house, because we didn’t have a system…

Mwc Space

6 min read

Mwc Space

6 min read


Published in THE TURNING POINT

·Jun 9, 2021

I Quit Being a Pastor

I spent my twenties training to be a pastor, while slowly losing my religion — He called me and said, “We’re holding your ordination.” That was the same call that made me leave church. I answered a call to preach in my very early twenties. “The call” is a compelling internal reach to respond to God to ministry, usually in a church, or a Christian…

Religion

5 min read

I Quit Being a Pastor
I Quit Being a Pastor
Religion

5 min read


Published in New/Mode

·Oct 21, 2019

Keeping Supporters Engaged Before, During & After A Vote

When I was an organizer for Planned Parenthood, the biggest part of my job was signing up new supporters and driving them to take action. I did this in many ways, but my favorite was to plan an in-person rally. …

New Mode

4 min read

Ways to Keep Your Supporters Engaged
Ways to Keep Your Supporters Engaged
New Mode

4 min read


Published in ZORA

·Aug 23, 2019

I’ve Lost Faith in the Way the Black Church Polices Women’s Bodies

Black women do not need to follow a White supremacist standard to receive God’s love — “If I get pregnant again, I’m having an abortion!” My nineteen-year-old sister, who had just given birth, said this in jest to me when I was 11. We didn’t condemn abortion; rather, we talked about it as a matter-of-fact social good, kind of like getting your tonsils taken out. …

Christianity

5 min read

I’ve Lost Faith in the Way the Black Church Polices Women’s Bodies
I’ve Lost Faith in the Way the Black Church Polices Women’s Bodies
Christianity

5 min read


Jun 17, 2019

How I answered a call to preach in college, and abandoned it

How I answered a call to preach in college, and abandoned it The pastor was anointing people one Sunday when I was eight years old. …

Christianity

8 min read

How I answered a call to preach in college, and abandoned it
How I answered a call to preach in college, and abandoned it
Christianity

8 min read


May 28, 2019

How a King-Sized Bed Showed Me I was Still Battling Self-Esteem

Last month, I threw out all of my things. And I’m much happier for it. I did it as a final step in moving on from a relationship where I had no voice, and I neglected my own needs. It started with a giant king-sized bed. My boyfriend at the…

Personal Essays

9 min read

How a King-Sized Bed Showed Me I was Still Battling Self-Esteem
How a King-Sized Bed Showed Me I was Still Battling Self-Esteem
Personal Essays

9 min read


Mar 9, 2019

Why I will leave a date if you offer me chicken tenders.

I’ve been dating. Sort of. And what I learned is a lot of men (well, the like 4 I’ve dated) wants the most while doing the least. One Friday night, I decided to go out to a bar in DC to meet people. I had no intention of meeting a…

Dating

4 min read

Why I will leave a date if you offer me chicken tenders.
Why I will leave a date if you offer me chicken tenders.
Dating

4 min read


Mar 7, 2019

Why I Started Traveling Solo Last Year

A breakup. The reason sounds so typical. I wish I started traveling for a more noble reason, to learn another language, or to meet new people, but it is what it is. First my ex-boyfriend started disappearing from my IG stories, then all his pictures were gone, then I just…

Love

4 min read

Why I Started Traveling Solo Last Year
Why I Started Traveling Solo Last Year
Love

4 min read


Jan 9, 2019

How much does Travel Cost? Complete Breakdown of How Much I Spent on a Trip to Paris, Madrid and Reykjavik

Travel is absolutely affordable. If you already have money. — “Traveling is not expensive! All you have to do it cut out lattes and you can make it happen!” (sigh) “Some of y’all buy Jordans, I buy plane tickets.” (EYE ROLL) “All it takes is a desire to travel!” I’ve heard all these quips for years and I find them…

Travel

4 min read

How much does Travel Cost?
How much does Travel Cost?
Travel

4 min read


Dec 4, 2018

How I Filled My 400 Sq Ft Apt While Still Pretending to be a Minimalist

I just bought this beautiful grey new couch from West Elm without measuring my apartment. Of course I didn’t, because I when I sat on it in the store I already imagined myself perched perkily on the couch in my newly emptied studio and nothing could erase that vision. It…

Design

3 min read

My New Couch
My New Couch
Design

3 min read

Emma Akpan

Emma Akpan

83 Followers

I used to be a preacher. Now I’m a data storyteller and create content for tech companies.

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