Published in ZORA·Jun 29, 2020Member-onlyThis Journalist Helped Eradicate Hospital Debt for Thousands in MemphisWendi C. Thomas, the founder of MLK50, created her own newsroom where she and her team are creating change for their community — Wendi C. Thomas, a prolific reporter and the founder of MLK50, learned the limitations of a single narrative as a child. When her father would drive her to school, they would listen to NPR together in the mornings. …Doing It My Way6 min readDoing It My Way6 min read
Apr 16, 2020My Perfect Impossible Cottagecore DreamIn my house in Poughkeepsie, which I miss very much and can never return to, there are plants lining almost every corner. A massive jade commands the living room, a tarot blooms sweetly by the kitchen table. …Cottage7 min readCottage7 min read
Published in Forge·Dec 3, 2019Member-onlyNetwork Like a Rich White ManMake professional connections just like all the Jareds and Matts in your office — As the child of immigrants, I was raised to be quiet—to keep my head down, work hard, and always be modest about my accomplishments. These are lessons that stuck with me even as I grew up and entered the workforce: I hated networking. I was deeply uncomfortable promoting myself. …Networking6 min readNetworking6 min read
Published in ZORA·Nov 20, 2019Itali Marlowe Set Her Sights on a Fresh StartShe hoped moving to Houston would be liberating — This story is part of Know Their Names, a collection of articles illuminating and celebrating the lives of Black Trans women. Houston is not where Itali Marlowe grew up, but it was the place she set out to make a home. …Lgbtqia3 min readLgbtqia3 min read
Published in ZORA·Nov 20, 2019Tracy Single’s Creative Energy Could Have Taken Her AnywhereHer love of dance, makeup, and fashion radiated from the inside out — This story is part of Know Their Names, a collection of articles illuminating and celebrating the lives of Black Trans women. When Tracy Single took the floor at Houston’s Montrose Grace Place (MGP), an evening drop-in center for youth experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, she owned it. …Lgbtqia3 min readLgbtqia3 min read
Published in ZORA·Sep 25, 2019Member-onlyBlack Women Are Driving a New R&B RenaissanceFinally, our music icons don’t have to be larger than life to get attention — “I woke up like this — flawless.” We all remember the iconic titular line of Beyoncé’s 2014 hit, “***Flawless.” The anthem, like other singles at the time such as “Run the World” and “Single Ladies,” encouraged women — and particularly Black women — to see and embrace their beauty, away…Music5 min readMusic5 min read