Published inZORA·Apr 11Member-onlySeven Young Black Women Writers To Celebrate And Support During National Poetry MonthA new cohort of Black women poets, writers, and creatives are throwing the genre of poetry on its head, and I’m here for it. April is in full swing, bringing with it spring, Mercury Retrograde **shudders,** and National Poetry Month. Poetry is a mainstay within the arts and provides a…National Poetry Month5 min readNational Poetry Month5 min read
Published inZORA·Mar 14Member-onlyThe Time I Got Cursed Out By Rapper Talib KweliOhhh the memories… Well, not necessarily, cursed out. More like cursed out adjacent. The fiery incident was connected with Kweli’s Twitter exchange, which led to him being suspended from the app in 2020. Talib had a spirited — for lack of a better term — conversation with another Twitter user…Culture4 min readCulture4 min read
Published inZORA·Mar 3Member-onlySeeing Black Women Twerk On The Gram Makes My Skin CrawlSocial media provides the perfect space for the continued dehumanization, commodification, and fetishization of Black women. — As we kick off Women’s History Month, I thought I might start my commemoration of women with an unpopular opinion: I am tired of seeing Black women twerk on social media. I often cringe at the continued objectification of Black women’s sexuality and their bodies being available for mass consumption…Racism5 min readRacism5 min read
Published inZORA·Feb 15Member-onlyDoes Bethenny Frankel Have A Bone To Pick With Black Women?Bethenny Frankel’s criticism of Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance reeks of a privileged White woman. — As Rihanna’s fans gushed over her Super Bowl halftime performance, flawless makeup, and adorable baby bump, naysayers quickly flooded social media with their critiques and criticisms. Former reality television star Bethenny Frankel gave her two cents on Instagram, saying Rihrih’s performance was more of a business opportunity than a demonstration…Culture4 min readCulture4 min read
Published inZORA·Feb 9Member-onlyNewsflash: Two Black Quarterbacks Playing in the Super Bowl Does Not Move the Needle Toward Addressing Racism in the NFLAlthough celebration is in order to commemorate two Black quarterbacks playing in the Super Bowl, racism in the NFL is still alive and well. — Two Black quarterbacks will play in the Super Bowl for the first time in history. Jalen Hurts, the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, will face off this Sunday to make history. The historic moment in football history has caught the attention of football…Racism6 min readRacism6 min read
Published inZORA·Jan 27Member-onlyContinued Calls For Police Reform Circulate As The Country Awaits Video Footage To Be Released Of The Encounter With Police That Led To Tyre Nichols’ DeathAs tensions almost hit a crescendo, continued demands for police reform around anti-Blackness and systemic failures circulate while the country awaits video footage of the encounter with police that led to Tyre Nichols’ death. — Memphis, Tennessee, braces itself for potential unrest as video footage of a traffic stop with Memphis Police which led to the death of Tyre Nichols, is said to be released today. For almost two weeks, people across the country have voiced outrage in response to yet another Black man being…Racism6 min readRacism6 min read
Published inZORA·Jan 20Member-onlyNCAT Instructor Criticized For Banning Hoodies And ‘Coochie Cutter Shorts’A syllabus from an undergraduate computer science class which imposed a student dress code went viral for policies that some argue were anti-Black, and highlight a larger issue about effective mentorship and empowering young Black people. — Last week, many colleges and universities returned from winter break. But just before classes began, a syllabus from a computer science class at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University went viral on Twitter for what some considered to be anti-Black course policies. The policies in question centered around dress…Racism5 min readRacism5 min read
Published inZORA·Updated Jan 18Member-onlyThree Important Facts About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s LegacyMany historical recollections of King’s life omit the intense campaign the FBI waged against him — Today, America celebrates the immeasurable legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister whose tremendous reach and profound impact transcended beyond the pulpit of his Montgomery, Alabama, church to create a civil rights movement of resistance against racial segregation and anti-Blackness in the United States. Dr. King’s achievements…Racism5 min readRacism5 min read
Published inZORA·Nov 28, 2022Member-onlyBlack Folks Deserve Better: Lemuel Plummer’s Zeus Network Is Everything That Is Wrong With Portrayals Of Blackness On TelevisionSome might find the Zeus Network highly entertaining, but we are more than anger, violence, and twerking half-naked. Do better. — Lemuel ‘Lemmie’ Plummer has made history as the CEO of Zeus Network. Being raised by parents who owned and operated multiple television stations in Detroit, it was natural that Plummer would follow in his parents’ footsteps to create his own multi-media dynasty. When Plummer started the subscription video-on-demand streaming network…Culture4 min readCulture4 min read
Published inZORA·Nov 27, 2022Member-onlyThe Real Reasons Stacey Abrams May Have Lost Georgia’s Gubernatorial RaceDid anti-Blackness, sizeism, sexism, and colorism stand between Stacy Abrams and the seat for Georgia governor? — This year’s elections that took place earlier in November were somewhat controversial and caused plenty of debate between voters on both sides of the aisle. Along with a concerning and politically and socially inept Hershel Walker, there was growing hope for other second-time candidates such as Beto O’Rourke and Stacey…Racism4 min readRacism4 min read