From Dehumanization to Humanization

With all that’s going on in the world, and in our country right now, my mind can rarely get away from the idea and reality of dehumanization―its ugliness, what it allows us to do, what it allows us to accept, what it allows us to become. Dehumanization is a nasty cycle. The homeless youth I… Continue reading From Dehumanization to Humanization

On Appropriateness and Appropriation

My fellow white men, Ferguson was insane. Back then, I split my time between New York City and North Florida, so I was able to witness two very different communities responding. Predictably, the white, male, cisgendered group (of which many of us are part) in Florida substantively crushed the myth of post-racism in modern society.… Continue reading On Appropriateness and Appropriation

Sundays With My Grandmother

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

Together, We Are Better

The author's parents, 1970.

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