“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
Crisis of Identity
My first identity crisis came with my Haitian background: both of my parents are Haitian and I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I experienced a lot of negative stereotypes and taunts—Haitian Booty Scratcher, Haitians smell, their socks don’t match—and decided to embrace my American-ness while denying my Haitian-ness. All that changed on… Continue reading Crisis of Identity
In This Together: Police Brutality Against Black and Brown People
Native people are the most loving people in the world. And it makes sense—so many of us have seen this movie before. We got our own problems, right? Still, ever since the Michael Brown tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri, I’ve received hundreds of Facebook messages and emails—Native people understanding the connection between black folks’ interaction with… Continue reading In This Together: Police Brutality Against Black and Brown People
On the Cusp of Identity
Johny Pitts is a writer, photographer, and broadcast journalist interested in issues of Afro-European identity. He won a Decibel Penguin Prize for a short story included in the The Map of Me, a Penguin books anthology about mixed-race identity. He recently collaborated with author Caryl Phillips on a photographic essay for the BBC and Arts… Continue reading On the Cusp of Identity
Mental Means of Production
In a society where we witness the continuous, acute consolidation of power, be it economic, political, or through sheer military might, far too many souls have been locked in a circle of consumerism. Cities turn to mega-cities. Ample countrysides and vast open spaces, rich and fertile land stand waiting as if in defiance of our… Continue reading Mental Means of Production
OG: Jean Baptiste Point du Sable
OG commemorates pioneering men of color throughout history. Do we really need to explain the acronym? Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (1750-1818), was a Haitian-born trader and pioneer, most famous for being the first non-Native American to settle in what would letter be named Chicago, Illinois. Du Sable established his farm and trading post near the mouth of… Continue reading OG: Jean Baptiste Point du Sable
Lemon and Ice: The Rules of Blackpeoplegatherings
As a full-time Black Person, I have attended about 12 hundred dozen Blackpeoplegatherings in my lifetime. Crab boils. Welcome Home From The Clink parties. Fish fry-style wedding receptions. You’ll probably observe many of the same elements at most of these Blackpeoplegatherings. Drank. Music (with a high probability of the Electric Slide making an appearance). Bad… Continue reading Lemon and Ice: The Rules of Blackpeoplegatherings