Published in ZORA·May 10The (Absurd) Rebelliousness of Short Hair as a Black WomanI’m not proud of this, but I remember — as a young girl — running around the house with a pair of stockings on my head, pretending I had long hair. As a young Black girl, steeped in Eurocentric beauty standards, I equated beauty with long, light-weight, straight hair. And…Black Hair7 min read
Published in ZORA·Mar 10, 2021Labor Pains: Grappling With the Inherent Pressures of Infertility — Societal and Self-ImposedYesterday, I took my zillionth pregnancy test. It was negative… again. — At this point, I’m not sure how I’d feel to actually see those coveted two vertical lines. Not sure I ever will. I’ll be 40 this year. It feels metaphysical to type that, to accept the reality of that fact. In a million ways I still feel like a kid…Infertility6 min read
Published in Tenderly·Feb 17, 2020My Best Friend Has Four LegsHere’s how she won me over — I grew up in a world where dogs were appreciated in theory but never allowed in the house. This comes standard for many black families in America, especially in the South. While my mother claimed to love dogs, I never actually saw her touch one. In fact, she banned them…Animals8 min read
Dec 17, 2019BAH HUMBUG.Unpopular opinion: I hate Christmas. Hear me out. I realize hate is a strong word to use. Perhaps, it’s too strong a word. Let’s just say: I’m not a fan. I wouldn’t dare try to convince you to feel the way I do, but please… allow me to explain. Before I get into my rather…Christmas5 min read
Nov 25, 2019A Letter to My 16-Year-Old SelfNot to brag, but my family is pretty awesome. My older cousin has a daughter that just turned 16. In her boundless wisdom, she asked a handful of women in the family to write a letter to her daughter outlining things we’d say to our 16-year-old selves. I was honored…Relationships4 min read
Nov 25, 2019The Youngest Old LadyAt 78 years old, my grandmother turned heads like Dorothy Dandridge. She walked six miles a day; every day and ate a healthy, low-fat diet. Her waistline rivaled that of a teenager and the whole world was her catwalk. She didn’t walk — she sashayed. She had the confidence of…Health4 min read
Published in ZORA·Nov 23, 2019It’s Time for Black Women to Take Off the Corporate MaskI not only hated my job, I hated myself. I knew something had to change. — Sometimes I wonder what my co-workers see when they look at me. For a long time, I tried to look and act the part, to behave the way that may be expected of me. I relaxed my hair. I wore smooth, slick buns and blazers, and was a regular contributor…Work6 min read