I woke up on Sunday morning in my grandmother’s apartment, smelling the steam that came from my ironed dress pants that hung on the wall. I could hear the loud voice of Pastor Joel Osteen on the television preaching about forgiveness and the goodness of God. “By the glorious grace of God” or “Turn to… Continue reading Sundays With My Grandmother
Month: March 2015
Why I Got Married
One of my dearest friends reached out to me recently with a question so out of the blue and heartfelt that I was compelled to respond to her immediately. What followed was a complete stream of consciousness that really should be shared with no one other than my spouse because he accepts me, typos and… Continue reading Why I Got Married
Together, We Are Better
My mother and father grew up in segregation. Mickey and Miami have fooled people into thinking otherwise, but Florida is and always was a Southern state. My father was born during the Baby Boom and lived in a shotgun house on the brother side of Jacksonville, the youngest of four siblings. His older brother, Julian, made… Continue reading Together, We Are Better
Launch Event Recap
To celebrate the launch of the publication, Abernathy partnered with Lessons Learned to host an intimate, private launch event in New York City on Saturday, March 14th, 2015. Lessons Learned is a live storytelling event series founded by Wes Kao. The invitation-only event series features a curated speaker lineup, intimate setting, and stories from smart people about hard-earned lessons.… Continue reading Launch Event Recap
On Selma, the Movie
So. I finally saw Selma. I sat there in Cinema Café with my mother and that $839 popcorn and watched Martin and The Gang knuckle up with change history by helping those dusty ass, shitborne, unsavory, old timey White people get their motherfucking minds right. Hella Patient Black Excellence in motion and such. … Continue reading On Selma, the Movie
From Ferguson to Philippi
I live in Cape Town, South Africa. Far away from the community organizing, battle-waging on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, I read through the effects of police brutality from my news sources in my own backyard and I am overcome with a sense of connectedness with these problems. In my short life, I have met… Continue reading From Ferguson to Philippi
Going Native
“Where you from?” the driver asks in Spanish after a few minutes in the air-conditioned cab. He had picked me up on the corner near my apartment, sweating under the morning sun in my khakis and button-down dress shirt with the sleeves rolled-up to the elbow. He is running me to the university, but it… Continue reading Going Native
Remembering Selma
Fifty years ago, in March of 1965, thousands of people protested restrictions on the voting rights of black citizens in Alabama by marching from the town of Selma to the state capital at Montgomery, a distance of 54 miles. State and local police beat marchers unconscious and white militia groups attacked and killed participants, all… Continue reading Remembering Selma
But What About Black-on-Black Crime?
Social media’s coverage of police brutality cases have renewed the discussions regarding race relations in America. The conversations center on systemic racism in America evidenced by the country’s lack of respect for black lives. Unfortunately, opposition to this conversation comes in the form of placing the burden on the black community by asking: “what about… Continue reading But What About Black-on-Black Crime?
Feminism: It’s Not About You
I am a feminist. I have a feminist perspective. Immediately after typing these words, I also feel the need to type: “I do not hate men.” Often, when I proclaim a feminist perspective, this leads many men to roll their eyes and assert that I’m declaring my hatred of men. The words “I am a… Continue reading Feminism: It’s Not About You