Shamontiel L. Vaughn·Jun 22Sometimes you won’t relate — and that’s OKWhy every writing staff needs a minority writer and editor who understands other minorities — “I don’t care what the difference is between a hijab, niqab or a burka,” the editor told me. “Just call it a burka and move on.” “I do care,” I shot back. “And considering this post is about how Muslim women are treated post-9/11, her attire matters.” “But no one…Discrimination4 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·Jun 19Dog Karens, you don’t own every neighborhood petWhen subconscious racial profiling seeps its way into dog lovers — I wear headphones and sunglasses 99% of the time that I walk my dog. In the spring, the shades are often because allergy season is a monster on my eyes (and contact lenses). But the headphones are mandatory all year round. Why? …Racism12 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·Jun 15Whether 22 days or two, veganism continues to make an impactCelebs pique the interest of African-American aspiring vegans and vegetarians — Doctors are treating patients with food as medicine — finally. Vegan burgers have trickled their way into grocery stores and fast food chains around the world. Vegetarian meals and fitness apparel are a hot topic on social media. And The Economist even declared 2019 the “year of the vegan.” But…Veganism5 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·Jun 5Boy craziness taught me to swimThe accidental way I learned how to conquer the deep end — Black children are six times more likely to drown in a swimming pool compared to white children. In fact, the USA Swimming Foundation reports that nearly 64% of African-American children have little to no swimming ability. That’s one of many reasons black folks are often found on the sides of…Swimming5 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·May 31I never wanted to bird-watch, but I’m watching Christian Cooper’s showRacist Amy Cooper sues employer, innocent black man gets nature show — I wore a tank top last week that said, “The lake is my happy place.” It’s true. I’d made a point of finding rentals that were walking distance from a lakefront or beach when I returned from Missouri to my hometown of Chicago. I love digging my feet in the…Birds3 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·May 25Take Walmart off your Juneteenth shopping listHolidays and capitalism: Are we lowballing Juneteenth paraphernalia? — Juneteenth5 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·May 21Do black men really care about black women’s hair?Men weigh in on their favorite traits about women — I never thought I wanted to be “Best __________” in a high school yearbook until I cut my hair. I’d been playing with the idea freshman year and finally wacked it off sophomore year. I knew how to dye hair, perm hair and was an OK braider. But once I…Black Women12 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·May 19Light skin, light eyes, dark outlookHow colorism made me more attracted to dark-skinned men — “Simon says dance in place.” “Simon says pat your head.” “Simon says kiss the person next to you.” I was playing this childhood game with expertise, knowing when and when not to follow the commands. The two teachers’ assistants were entertained watching us, and I was having a blast while…Colorism7 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·May 12How comfortable are you with having a black woman boss?Criticism from women hits harder in the workplace — I should have gone with my gut instinct. I knew something was off after the mock interview ended, but I ignored that part of my brain and hired him anyway. White, older than me and with a wealth of experience, he seemed like the perfect hire for a new team…Racism7 min read
Shamontiel L. Vaughn·May 1When promposals get a sprinkle of racismStop calling schools ‘diverse’ when black people aren’t there — The life span of an enslaved person on a sugar plantation could be as little as seven years, according to the 1619 Project. Along with the story of Queen Njinga, that was one of the most memorable facts I took away from the publication. …Racism4 min read
