Writing
Everything you need to know about submitting articles
Cultured is an online publication which curates high quality articles about social justice issues. Writers on our publication redefine culture through their writing. We want stories about race, culture, womanism, gender, sexuality, and equality. Journalistic, personal essays, and poetry are welcome forms on the publication.
We have a new home — www.readcultured.com. It’s still a Medium pub, but the domain will make it easier for readers to find and support your work. Social activists should use Cultured to share stories about their pursuits to overcome adversity. Personal stories from the trenches, political commentary, and societal critiques are always welcome.
Topics we amplify
America needs our stories and perspective
History Matters
White washed history must go
One month, not enough
We cannot separate Black history from American history. And while it’s amazing to see our history celebrated from sea to shining sea, one month is not enough to highlight our amazing contributions and triumphs. Black History month barely scratches the surface. Also, this subject is not universally accepted. Many people still fight against the idea that public schools should teach Black history.
So, it’s absolutely necessary for Black people to tell Black history from the lens of Black perspectives. In our absence, white historians have controlled the narrative. As…
Poem: Women Activists
Your unmatched courage
and freedom fighting instincts
were ingrained with ancestors’ blood
whose strength and heroism
broke barriers and conquered their plights
so that we can stand today — emancipated.
“Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.”
— John Lennon / Paul McCartney
The global case of skin bleaching and the Western ideal of beauty
While this long read is primarily based on skin bleaching, it’s impossible not to write about the influence of Western standards of beauty in its entirety as it stems from promoting society’s belief in whiteness as the most beautiful and worthy of respect and admiration. A quick google search (eg. type beautiful women), proves the common sentiments of who is deemed attractive. It’s evident, spreading and pervasive influence sets a precedent in these conversations. They both go hand in hand, intertwined in a union that can’t be ignored as it has affected many aspects within society.
The issue of colourism…
Haiku
Black Women Matter
their feelings are valid too
makes space for anger
Society puts unrealistic expectations onto Black women, namely that they must act accordingly or get slapped with the angry Black woman trope. While some view this stereotype as a harmless generalization, diminishing Black women’s feelings is no laughing matter. The harm caused by racist tropes are two fold — they dehumanize the marginalized group while simultaneously trying to control them. The angry Black woman trope aims to characterize Black women as over-the-top, out of control, and monstrous.
In the aftermath of slavery and the resulting social, economic, and…
Let's dismantle these microaggressive comments
As black women, we encounter an abundance of remarks that are clearly offensive to us as a whole. However, society doesn't realise that some of the remarks they make towards us are derogatory, when they may think they are harmless in effect.
From my personal experiences, I can account for why these are disrespectful and wrong. It may be simple to say "just ignore it'' or ''it doesn't matter, they didn't mean it like that'' from an outside perspective, but as someone who has heard these remarks first hand, it is far more damaging than that.
As a society, we…
Criminal Prosecution Must Be Next for The Sake of Democracy
Following the acquittal of former President Trump on February 13th, there are clear winners and losers.
For starters, Donald Trump won. The white supremacists won. And Trump enablers won.
But with the acquittal of Mr. Trump, democracy lost, our constitutional institution lost, America has lost.
But it doesn’t have to stay this way.
The Senate should have voted to convict former president Donald J. Trump. It’s appalling that he was not.
I firmly believe Donald Trump was behind the insurrection. Now, of course, the rioters could have chosen not to rampage the Capitol. Still, it is undeniable that Mr. …
Haiku
In the weeks leading up to president Joe Biden’s inauguration, thousands of Hondurans, in a desperate plea to escape their poverty-stricken, violence-ridden, and hurricane tormented country, attempted to make their way through Guatemalan and Mexican borders in the hopes of a better life in America.
In his presidential campaign trail, former President-elect Biden proclaimed that the United States and Central America are “bound together not just by proximity, but by our shared history and values, and the deeply rooted connections of family and friends that inextricably link our futures.”
The previous administration blatantly disregarded these shared values while dehumanizing the…
