Nov 25, 2020Instagram Account “Kenyans Exposed” Taken Down for Taking Down PerpetratorsTW: Sexual Assault, Rape, Sexual Violence against Women There’s so much I love about Nairobi. I love the smell of the air — unadulterated and imperfect. I love the depth of valleys and peaks of hills decorated with greens, fuchsias, and browns so vibrant they’re almost unfathomable. I love the…Kenya6 min readKenya6 min read
Jun 20, 2020What does Black fatherhood mean to you?Black fathers in this country and around the world carry both the incredible responsibility of pillaring their communities and the immense joy of shepherding a new generation through life. This experience and more are eloquently explored in Color Him Father, a novel by Lawrence M. Drake II about black fatherhood…BlackLivesMatter4 min readBlackLivesMatter4 min read
Jun 1, 2020Long-Distance Couples in QuarantineDoes distance still make the heart grow fonder? I talked to long-distance couples around the world to see how their relationships are affected by the pandemic. “We’re accepting that we’re just victims of circumstance. It gives us some sort of peace. We are doing the absolute best for each other…Relationships4 min readRelationships4 min read
May 14, 2020Singing Duo Najuah brings African culture to Toronto and beyond.Listening to Najuah’s music, it’s clear that the singing duo is bringing something different, and special, to the table. Based out of Toronto, Canada, their exciting mix of pop, rock, R&B, and hip hop sounds enliven their already vivacious lyrics. It’s the kind of music you want to listen to…Music3 min readMusic3 min read
Published inAge of Awareness·May 13, 2020COVID-19 has pushed me to confront my diabetesA few nights ago, after hours of attempting to coax sleep while awkwardly sprawled on a heat resistant bedsheet, my incoming slumber was disrupted by a foreign alarm. Too aggressive for a phone notification, I slowly rolled over to diagnose the distress. As I did so, I gently felt for…Health5 min readHealth5 min read
Published inAge of Awareness·Apr 27, 2020The Black Artist’s DilemmaHow Spike Lee’s ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ highlights the relationship between black responsibility and artistry. — As black artists, we have the unique responsibility to both interpret the world as we know it and use our platform to visualize the black experience. Adhering to this standard can be extremely difficult- the needs of the community do not often align with the needs of the individual. Does…TV Series4 min readTV Series4 min read
Apr 25, 2020Are you overprotecting your relationship?I asked myself this post’s titular question last week when I found myself at odds with two friends about the frequency in which they asked about my relationship. The first quarrel was initiated by a routine “catch me up” conversation via text with a dear friend of mine. We exchanged…Relationships4 min readRelationships4 min read
Apr 17, 2020What “The Goop Lab” taught me as a young, diabetic woman.As my roommate and I sat in front of our modestly sized TV scrolling through Netflix, we exchanged the same non-verbal sentiment: numbness, by way of deep unenthusiasm. Every title we clicked through seemed underwhelming and incompatible with the evening’s vibe. New Girl? No, we’ve re-watched it too many times…Women4 min readWomen4 min read
Published inAn Injustice!·Apr 10, 2020Why Aren’t We Talking About How Often Black Women are Gaslighted?Research suggests it’s a lot more prevalent than we think — I was in an on-again-off-again relationship for five years that depleted me. As of late, I have been asking myself why aren’t we talking about how often black women are gaslighted? The vicious cycle was as follows: he would reach out to me, mastering the perfect concoction of grandiose romantic…Gaslighting4 min readGaslighting4 min read
Published inZORA·Jan 29, 2020Member-onlyTerry Crews’ Failure to Support Gabrielle Union Is Peak Anti-BlacknessHe’s turned his back on the very women he once said supported him the most — “It is so easy to support Black women.” — Amanda Seales Apparently not so easy for Terry Crews. Last week, the professional football player turned actor was asked about Gabrielle Union’s allegations against America’s Got Talent during an interview with 3rd Hour of Today. His on-air response was dismissive of…Culture5 min readCulture5 min read