Advocating for Our Youth and Why We Need to Redefine Black-on-Black Violence
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 28, 2015
Rating: 5
We've Been Leaning In: "The Nightly Show" on Patricia Arquette’s Problematic Oscars Speech
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by Brianna Cox
Patricia Arquette roused many feelings after she spoke about women’s equality at the Academy Awards last Sunday. But her call for wage equality was also an age-old call sounded by many a white feminist throughout history.
In her acceptance speech, Arquette thanked her loved ones and the cast and crew of Boyhood, before saying:
To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights! It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America!This seems innocuous, perhaps, to the untrained ear, or to someone who likes to throw out the problematic baby in the proverbial bathwater. She continued afterwards, telling the press:
It’s time for women. Equal means equal. The truth is the older women get, the less money they make. The highest percentage of children living in poverty are in female-headed households. It’s inexcusable that we go around the world and we talk about equal rights for women in other countries and we don’t. One of those superior court justices said two years ago in a law speech at a university that we don’t have equal rights for women in America, and we don’t because when they wrote Constitution, they didn’t intend it for women. So the truth is even though we sort of feel like we have equal rights in America, right under the surface there are huge issues at play that really do affect women. It’s time for all the women in America, and all the men that love women and all the gay people and all the people of color that we’ve all fought for — to fight for us now!Arquette started out strong – she really did. Nothing in the first section and leading up to this is untrue. However, the Constitution was not written for black people (who were slaves at the time) or LGBTQ people (whose sexuality were often criminalized) either. So, yes, there are absolutely inequalities that affect women because of the white heteropatriarchy that founded our society, but those issues also affect people of color and queer people, just as much—if not more.
“It’s time for all the women in America, and all the men that love women and all the gay people and all the people of color that we’ve all fought for — to fight for us now!”
This is a doozy. It is absolutely time that both men and women alike understand the necessity for gender equality, including the need for equal pay. However, this recognition of sexism should not and cannot come at the expense of the issues of queer, gay, and transgender folks, or black women and other women of color (who may also identify as LGBT).
Luckily, there have been many women—particularly Black women—who have been very public about expressing why Arquette's speech missed the mark on being a true feminist call to action: its lack of intersectionality and inclusivity. On Thursday night's episode of The Nightly Show, Larry Wilmore gathered a panel of Black women to discuss the problematic nature of Arquette's sentiments: writer and content producer Issa Rae, professor and author Christine Greer, comedian Marina Franklin, and New York Live co-host Jacque Reid.
As Patricia Arquette's speech centered on closing the pay gap, the four panelists discussed their experiences as Black women in work place (who traditionally make even less than white women, something Arquette doesn't seem to acknowledge).
This is why an understanding of history, coded language, and intersectionality of identities are all imperative when having honest discussions about gender equality.
History
Greer brings up how the inequality of black women in the workplace has historical roots by bringing up FDR's New Deal: "[FDR] had to make some concessions with white Southerners, and so he excluded black domestics. If you exclude black domestics… then we know over time, there's a lack of wealth that's been able to be built. Decade after decade, black people—black women in particular—were paid less."White feminists also have a hard time accepting how their own heroes for women's equality in the U.S. left out and promoted the oppression of women of color. Suffragettes Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for the voting rights of white cisgender straight women… and not for very much else. As Angela Davis notes in her book Women, Race, and Class, Anthony and Stanton fought for the rights of white cisgender straight women like themselves, at the expense of black men getting the vote (whom in their speeches they denigrate by calling them "niggers" and "sambos," and question their intelligence), and at the complete omission of black women.
Additionally, from Angela Davis to the Wages for Housework Movement in the 1970s to the present-day, both black women/women of color and queer women have always sought equality for all women in their movements (be that wage equality, reproductive rights, or whatever else). Arquette’s assumption and implication that women of color and queer women have only been focusing on issues that affect one particular aspect of their identity is 100% false, and quite misguided.
Coded Language
Christine Greer brings up the way code words and language are used to discriminate against women of color in the work place, in a way where white people don't have to take responsibility for the problematic nature of what they're saying. Coded language means implying something with your words while not actually saying it."We know with Patricia Arquette, when she says 'women,' she actually means white women," Greer explained about the troubling nature of the actress's speech.
Arquette may not have realized how her words came across, but her sentiments basically boiled down to: Because straight white women have helped fight for the rights of gay people and black people (even though, historically, they have not always done so), those other oppressed groups should put down their ongoing battles in order to help white women (who, again, have not always helped them). In addition, this is asking black women to choose their gender over their race, or asking gay people to choose their gender over their sexual orientation, which is nearly impossible to do.
When speaking on the unique issues that African-American women might face in the workplace, Reid expressed, "I had a manager tell me one time that she was afraid of me. And anybody who knows me, knows I'm not [coming] in with a gun or gang signs or anything like that. I'm just, you know, a typical black girl. And she told me she was afraid of me because I'm a strong woman, I'm opinionated, and I say what I feel needs to be said."
This point is particularly important, as Patricia Arquette failed to recognize the way that white women can sometimes make it uncomfortable or unwelcoming for women of color in the workplace, which also affects our ability to advance professionally and close the pay gap.
Intersectionality
Intersectionality, or how differing identities intersect, is important as well. Often, white feminists speak about their own experiences, not understanding how their race or class affords them privilege not experienced by other women.Jacque Reid brings up the focus on "leaning in," Sheryl Sandberg's philosophy of how women can push back against the glass ceiling. "Black women, we've been leaning in forever. The problem is no one is letting us advance… we get pushed back."
Black women and other women of color, due to their racial identities, have less societal privilege than white women. Queer and gay people have differing privilege as well. While some of them may be white, and are therefore afforded racial privilege, the heteronormitivity of our culture—or the fact that being heterosexual is seen as the status quo—makes them oppressed in that regard. Essentially, women of color, queer women, and queer women of color face multiple discriminations. Thus, when people speak about the need to understand of intersectionality when talking about "fighting for equal rights", these layered discriminations are often ignored, as Patricia Arquette did in her speech. What this does is imply that the struggles of people of color and queer people do not exist, and that (straight) white women are the gate keepers and experts of what all other women need.
Brianna Cox is regular contributor to For Harriet.
We've Been Leaning In: "The Nightly Show" on Patricia Arquette’s Problematic Oscars Speech
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 28, 2015
Rating: 5
We Deserve Real Food Too: Black Women's Search for Healthy Organic Food
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by Janice Gates
About 6 years ago, and after losing 45 pounds, I made a commitment to only choose organic and non-processed foods. I researched the web for the best health blogs and fitness professionals to follow, subscribed to newsletters, and followed fitness and health gurus on social media. I was ecstatic! I had discovered the secret to losing weight and optimal health: a balanced diet of fruits, veggies, and lean meats, as well as daily exercise. After 11 years as a vegetarian who rarely consumed an actual vegetable and one year as a vegan who over indulged in heavily processed meat and dairy substitutes, I had finally taken control of my health. I lost 45 pounds, my acne disappeared, and I had a lot more energy.
We Deserve Real Food Too: Black Women's Search for Healthy Organic Food
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 27, 2015
Rating: 5
We Need More Black Women Political Commentators in Media Spaces
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by Courtney Taylor
In light of rumors about Jessica Williams taking Jon Stewart’s place on The Daily Show and MSNBC’s cancellation of The Reid Report, there’s a rising need to address the vacancy of Black woman voices in political commentary.
We Need More Black Women Political Commentators in Media Spaces
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 27, 2015
Rating: 5
"Preachers of Detroit" is More Damaging than "Sorority Sisters"
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by Candice Benbow
I was looking forward to the premiere of Preachers of Detroit. After watching pastors argue over honorariums and babies “born out of wedlock” on Preachers of LA, I couldn’t stomach another show about the “real” lives of pastors. Yet, the Detroit cast boasted two women who have been influential to my life and so many others. Bishop Corletta Vaughn has been a consistent example to and inspiration for many of us who know God has called us to lead the church. Evangelist Dorinda Clark-Cole’s trajectory has been one that many a church girl looked to and found evidence that you can love God, be trendy and still be blessed and highly favored. Naturally, when I learned that they were apart of the cast, I found myself excited. Unlike Preachers of LA, which portrayed women as only pastors’ wives and perpetual girlfriends with no real leadership ability or power, Preachers of Detroit would show two women in ministry, standing in their own authority and proving that God anointed us too.
"Preachers of Detroit" is More Damaging than "Sorority Sisters"
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 27, 2015
Rating: 5
Miesha Overton, 17, Missing from Philadelphia and May Be at Risk of Harming Herself
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The Philadelphia Police Department is asking for help or information about the whereabouts of 17-year-old Miesha Overton, who was last seen at George Washington High School at 10175 Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia. Miesha lives on the 1100 block of Alcott Street.
Miesha Overton, 17, Missing from Philadelphia and May Be at Risk of Harming Herself
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 27, 2015
Rating: 5
Dear White Women: You Don't Get to Say That
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by Altheria Gaston
When I awakened Tuesday morning and watched that morning’s news show, my mouth dropped when I heard the story. I asked my fiancé, “Why does she think she can say that? She doesn’t get to say that!”
Dear White Women: You Don't Get to Say That
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 27, 2015
Rating: 5
“I Am Not Yours”: Respecting Black Women’s Agency
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by Inda Lauryn
When Kesenia Boom wrote “Sh*t White Feminists Say to Black Feminists (And How to Counter Them),” she recognized the ways in which white feminists dismiss the valid concerns and issues unique to Black women. When Jessica Williams announced she would not seek the hosting position on The Daily Show, much to the disappointment of her fans, white feminism took it upon itself to diagnose Williams as having impostor syndrome. In a post for The Billfold, Ester Bloom writes:
“I Am Not Yours”: Respecting Black Women’s Agency
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 26, 2015
Rating: 5
When Mother Doesn’t Know Best: Challenging Our Foremothers on Gender and Respectability
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by Jenn M. Jackson
The common fallacy about misogyny is that it is reserved for men. Many people believe that one can’t be a woman and still possess misogynistic biases. Sadly, this opinion is unfounded especially in the case of Black women. Far too often, our foremothers suffer from internalized misogynoir and respectability even though they themselves have overcome the obstacles of being Black women in predominantly White spaces. In times like these, when popular culture not only condones but excuses sexual abuse of women, we have to work to counter these narratives while seeking community with our foremothers.
When Mother Doesn’t Know Best: Challenging Our Foremothers on Gender and Respectability
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 26, 2015
Rating: 5
Patricia Arquette’s Feminism Has No Room For Me
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by Casey Bruce
The fact remains, LGBTQ and women of color are not included in feminism.
I watched the 87th Academy Awards with the understanding of who would be celebrated that night—white men.
Patricia Arquette’s Feminism Has No Room For Me
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 25, 2015
Rating: 5
Recollections on Growing Up an Awkward Black Girl
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by Brittany Dawson
I was crowned the title “awkward Black girl” in the seventh grade.
Other than my parent’s collection, I didn’t personally own magazines popular within the African American community, like JET Magazine or Essence. Harry Potter books consumed all the space in my locker where others thought Chris Brown posters should’ve been.
Recollections on Growing Up an Awkward Black Girl
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 25, 2015
Rating: 5
An Introductory Guide to Being a Better Ally to Your Black LGBTQ Sisters
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by Kesiena Boom
It’s a well-documented fact that shared oppression does not always foster a supportive and united front. Black women are super aware of the ways in which Black men—despite our joint experiences under racism—are often all too quick to step on us; perpetuate and dismiss our experiences of misogynoir; and gloss over our specific problems under white supremacist, capitalist patriarchy. This can be viewed in a nutshell by the current swathes of classist misogynoir being directed at Amber Rose by her ex-boyfriend, Kanye West, who has previously been vocal on issues of white supremacy both through his work and his words. Whilst the hate thrown at us by Black men is straight up abominable and is rightly a source of much frustration for Black women, we must remember that those of us who are cisgender and/or straight are not exempt from the ability to step on, degrade and oppress those who are meant to be our kinfolk, just like Black men do to us. That is, queer Black women are routinely let down by our heterosexual and/or cis sisters who are meant to have our backs.
An Introductory Guide to Being a Better Ally to Your Black LGBTQ Sisters
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 25, 2015
Rating: 5
Kanye West Does Not Care About Black Women
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by Kinsey Clarke
“And when he get on, he’ll leave you’re a** for a white girl.” —Kanye West, “Golddigger”
Mr. Kanye West has never spoken truer words, as he became the latest celebrity to add his two cents after ex-girlfriend Amber Rose made comments about 25-year-old rapper Tyga and his rumored relationship with minor Kylie Jenner, which caused a Twitter beef between Rose and Jenner’s older half-sister, Khloe Kardashian. West’s recent interview with The Breakfast Club shed some insight on how the rapper chose to place the whiteness of the Kardashians on a pedestal in comparison to black women like Amber Rose.
Kanye West Does Not Care About Black Women
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 24, 2015
Rating: 5
Florida Mom Arrested After Beating, Publicly Humiliating Daughter
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Melany Joyce Alexander, 31, is accused of beating her daughter, then sending her to middle school wearing a T-shirt that said, in handwritten text, that she had gotten a "good woopin" for getting bad grades, police said.
Florida Mom Arrested After Beating, Publicly Humiliating Daughter
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 24, 2015
Rating: 5
Why Celebrating Our Mothers and Foremothers' Legacies is Important for Black History
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by C. Imani Williams
Black women are phenomenal. We are the most resilient beings on the planet. We combat the numerous “-isms” thrown our way on a daily basis, and in spite of it all, still manage to get things done. Our faith and strength cover us in ways that sometimes defy logic. Through spiritual connection and self-preservation, we are ever-changing chameleons who rise to the occasion, time after time.
Why Celebrating Our Mothers and Foremothers' Legacies is Important for Black History
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 24, 2015
Rating: 5
Dr. Maya Angelou to be Honored With a Forever Stamp
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The U.S. Postal Service will release a "forever" stamp honoring writer Maya Angelou, the agency announced Monday. Angelou, best known for her memoir "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," died last year at age 86.
Dr. Maya Angelou to be Honored With a Forever Stamp
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 23, 2015
Rating: 5
Aunt Jemima Heirs’ $3 Billion Lawsuit Against Pepsi, Quaker Oats Dismissed
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The lawsuit brought against PepsiCo and the Quaker Oats Company by D.W. Hunter and Larnell Evans, Jr. has been dismissed in a Chicago court.
Aunt Jemima Heirs’ $3 Billion Lawsuit Against Pepsi, Quaker Oats Dismissed
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 23, 2015
Rating: 5
5 Body Positive Black Women Who'll Inspire You to Love Yourself Just as You Are
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by Krislyn Domingue
Body positivity emerged as a pushback against limiting, normative Eurocentric beauty and body standards. The movement is an inspiring and revolutionary effort to reclaim and redefine our bodies as our own. It also encourages us to see our bodies—and our whole selves—as beautiful, no matter our shape, color, ability, age, or size. While there have been many body positive role models in mainstream media, conversations surrounding body empowerment often push Black women activists to the margins or erase their contributions altogether. This list is meant to highlight a few women who should be recognized for embracing their own beauty and inspiring others to embark on a journey of self-love and affirmation.
5 Body Positive Black Women Who'll Inspire You to Love Yourself Just as You Are
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 23, 2015
Rating: 5
Reflections on Being a Reformed Token Black Friend
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by Amber Dorsey
In January, I received an invitation to a GALentine’s party from a Facebook friend from high school. When I first got the Evite, I was admittedly a little shocked. While we keep up via social media, I hadn’t actually spoken to the host since she was pregnant the year before. How had I made it onto the list? Was it an oversight on her part due to using the list from the previous year? I was both confused and intrigued. I checked my calendar, replied “yes,” and waited to see if there would be an “Oh, dear, my bad…” sort of response.
Reflections on Being a Reformed Token Black Friend
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 22, 2015
Rating: 5
Blackness Redefined: My Journey of Discovering What Being Black Means to Me
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by Moiyattu Banya
My black identity is bound up in my culture and my experiences; the consciousness-raising that I experience as a feminist and African black woman; and the relationships I have been able to cultivate with other women of color. Blackness is a thing I had to develop and understand. I believe many immigrants of color do as well. In reflecting on how I developed my sense of black womanhood, I needed to think about my journey from Sierra Leone in West Africa—where I was born—to who and where I am now. With the mass movement of people of color traveling around the world, the concept of blackness has become more intricate and continues to evolve, while still maintaining its strong historical connections.
Blackness Redefined: My Journey of Discovering What Being Black Means to Me
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 22, 2015
Rating: 5
Doing the Work, Preaching the Word: 6 Black Female Christian Leaders Who Inspire Us
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by Tracey Michae’l
"Yes, baby. Man might be the head of the Body but us women are the neck. Without us, the head wouldn't know which way he is going."
The old woman gave me a crooked grin and a wink as she finished doling out her words of wisdom and shuffled back down the middle aisle of the church.
Doing the Work, Preaching the Word: 6 Black Female Christian Leaders Who Inspire Us
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 21, 2015
Rating: 5
A Message to the Diaspora: Africa is More than Its Struggles
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by by Khanya Mtshali
As a woman hailing from a continent that is so often looked down upon, it is rare that I find an article or anything masquerading as literature that speaks of the good in Africa. More often than not, people choose to highlight the negative: the Ebola epidemic, HIV/AIDS rates, corrupt governments, poverty, lack of infrastructure, civil wars, and the like. When some poor soul attempts to write something vaguely positive about Africa, it reads like an excerpt from Christopher Columbus’s diary entries about the Americans whose land he “discovered.” The messages about the continent are condescending and misguided, and paint it as a place that should be avoided at all costs. My Facebook Timeline is often inundated with photos of wide-grinning, dark-skinned African children accompanied by some caption praising the kids’ ability to “smile through adversity.” Something that—as the authors behind these foolish attempts at social awareness point out—people in the Western world with all of its advancement and civilization could learn from.
As a woman hailing from a continent that is so often looked down upon, it is rare that I find an article or anything masquerading as literature that speaks of the good in Africa. More often than not, people choose to highlight the negative: the Ebola epidemic, HIV/AIDS rates, corrupt governments, poverty, lack of infrastructure, civil wars, and the like. When some poor soul attempts to write something vaguely positive about Africa, it reads like an excerpt from Christopher Columbus’s diary entries about the Americans whose land he “discovered.” The messages about the continent are condescending and misguided, and paint it as a place that should be avoided at all costs. My Facebook Timeline is often inundated with photos of wide-grinning, dark-skinned African children accompanied by some caption praising the kids’ ability to “smile through adversity.” Something that—as the authors behind these foolish attempts at social awareness point out—people in the Western world with all of its advancement and civilization could learn from.
A Message to the Diaspora: Africa is More than Its Struggles
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 20, 2015
Rating: 5
Curl Collection: A Top Name in Natural Hair Care
Reviewed by Anonymous
on
February 20, 2015
Rating: 5
Black Women Are Not Your Emotional Dumping Ground
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by Mewe Okoh
Dominating a conversation isn’t natural for me. Instead, I listen. I enjoy listening – the inflections, the animation, the ebbs and flows that comprise the art of storytelling. It explains my major in English, my (seemingly) quiet demeanor, and my ability to attract folks with the gift of the gab. I got comfortable in that role—my role—of being The Listener. It was my way of asserting my true self without having to reveal too much. I doled out subtle rebuttals and “damn right!”s and shot the breeze – but at some point I stopped doling and shooting. The breeze turned to stagnant, stale air.
Black Women Are Not Your Emotional Dumping Ground
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 20, 2015
Rating: 5
ASU Police Officer Caught on Camera Violently Arresting Professor Resigns
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An Arizona State University police officer quit after a video of him slamming a professor to the ground for jaywalking went viral and drew national attention.
ASU Police Officer Caught on Camera Violently Arresting Professor Resigns
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 19, 2015
Rating: 5
5 Black Women Historical Figures from Around the World You Should Know
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by Bee Quammie
As we celebrate what’s left of Black History Month and look forward to Women’s History Month, it’s important to remember that Black women around the globe have made incredible contributions to world history. From Brazil to the United Kingdom and everywhere else, Black women have done incredible things, created incredible things, and have been incredible people. Take a passport-free journey through time and geography and get to know about 5 such women.
5 Black Women Historical Figures from Around the World You Should Know
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 19, 2015
Rating: 5
Why It Isn't "Just Hair" Hair for So Many Black Women
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by Sierra Boone
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been getting braids and twists and everything in between done to my hair. In my toddler years my head was a home for those infamous ponytails with balls that slapped me in the head. My pre-teen years were consumed with half-up half-down braided styles and my parents finally allowed me to wear long, jet black box braids and Senegalese twists in high school. Simply put, protective styles have defined my childhood and maturing hair experiences.
Why It Isn't "Just Hair" Hair for So Many Black Women
Reviewed by Sieboone
on
February 18, 2015
Rating: 5
Why the Many Reports of Men Killing their Wives & Families Are So Disturbing
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by Hilary Christian
Domestic violence is, unfortunately, all too prevalent in our society. From NFL players to singers to our own family members, coworkers, and friends, we have all been touched by domestic violence in some way. However the recent stories in the last couple of weeks involving men killing their wives and ex-partners in domestic disputes are even more disturbing as some of them involve the men killing multiple people—including their own children—before killing themselves.
Why the Many Reports of Men Killing their Wives & Families Are So Disturbing
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 18, 2015
Rating: 5
Can the Wests Live?: On the Stress of Parenting in Public
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by by Demetria Giles
North West, nicknamed Nori, was alongside her mother and father, Kim Kardashian-West and Kanye West, during two high-profile New York Fashion Week (NYFW) runway shows this past week. On Thursday, the media was in a frenzy over her loud crying prior to Kanye’s Yeezy showing, which premiered his new clothing line with Adidas. On social media, some even joked that Nori cried over the tattered and torn clothing debuted in his show. Two days later, she became emotional again while waiting for her aunt, model Kendall Jenner, to walk the runway at Alexander Wang’s NYFW show.
North West, nicknamed Nori, was alongside her mother and father, Kim Kardashian-West and Kanye West, during two high-profile New York Fashion Week (NYFW) runway shows this past week. On Thursday, the media was in a frenzy over her loud crying prior to Kanye’s Yeezy showing, which premiered his new clothing line with Adidas. On social media, some even joked that Nori cried over the tattered and torn clothing debuted in his show. Two days later, she became emotional again while waiting for her aunt, model Kendall Jenner, to walk the runway at Alexander Wang’s NYFW show.
Can the Wests Live?: On the Stress of Parenting in Public
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 18, 2015
Rating: 5
'Book of Negroes' Star Discusses Why We Cannot Stop Telling the Stories of the Enslaved
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Veteran actress Aunjanue Ellis gives an extraordinary performance as Aminata Diallo in the BET/CBC production Book of Negroes. The Mississippi native carries the miniseries that covers the true story of the life of the enslaved woman.
'Book of Negroes' Star Discusses Why We Cannot Stop Telling the Stories of the Enslaved
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 17, 2015
Rating: 5
How I'm Staying Committed to Racial Justice in an Interracial Relationship
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by Veronica Agard
From the margin to the center, from the streets to our homes, the personal is always political. But how deep does that connection go? 2014 was a traumatic year for many of us—as we lost Yvette Smith, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tanisha Anderson, and several others due to state and police violence. 2014 was also a year of resistance and resilience, as we saw the rise of black activists of all narratives and identities rallying for their communities. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Marie Cullors-Brignac and Opal Tometi of Black Lives Matter have laid down a powerful foundation for sustained activism.
How I'm Staying Committed to Racial Justice in an Interracial Relationship
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 17, 2015
Rating: 5
How Empire's Cookie Sheds Light on the Struggles of Incarcerated Black Mothers
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by Raisa Habersham
What’s not to love about Cookie Lyon, the hood matriarch at the center of FOX’s hit show, Empire?
Played by Taraji P. Henson, Cookie is street-smart, fierce, and unapologetic, while still managing to be a sympathetic and vulnerable character. Everything about Cookie is bold—from the way she dresses to her quick-witted snaps at Lucious (Terrence Howard), her ex-husband and semi-nemesis, who built the successful Empire Entertainment using initial investment money she provided by dealing drugs. It is her drug dealing that landed her in prison and kept her away from her three sons.
How Empire's Cookie Sheds Light on the Struggles of Incarcerated Black Mothers
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 17, 2015
Rating: 5
'Young and the Restless' Star Victoria Rowell Sues Show for Racial Discrimination
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Victoria Rowell, 'The Young and the Restless' actress who played Drucilla Winters on the soap opera, is suing the show's producers for refusing to re-hire her, a decision she believes is motivated by racism.
'Young and the Restless' Star Victoria Rowell Sues Show for Racial Discrimination
Reviewed by Anonymous
on
February 16, 2015
Rating: 5
Beyond Christianity: Yes, Non-Religious Blacks Find Spiritual Connection Too
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by C. Imani Williams
We all need a source of strength and hope to make it through life.
Almost all organized religions center around a belief in a Higher Power, something greater than oneself. This belief provides followers with a community they can turn to when in need of support and fellowship. It also provides them with guidance for dealing with life’s challenges and obstacles. Many Black folks in the U.S. follow some denomination of Christianity. They may also identify as Muslim, following the lessons put forth in the Quran. There are also Black Jews, even if not as widely recognized.
We all need a source of strength and hope to make it through life.
Almost all organized religions center around a belief in a Higher Power, something greater than oneself. This belief provides followers with a community they can turn to when in need of support and fellowship. It also provides them with guidance for dealing with life’s challenges and obstacles. Many Black folks in the U.S. follow some denomination of Christianity. They may also identify as Muslim, following the lessons put forth in the Quran. There are also Black Jews, even if not as widely recognized.
Beyond Christianity: Yes, Non-Religious Blacks Find Spiritual Connection Too
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 16, 2015
Rating: 5
Georgia Woman Files Suit Alleging Police Beating Led to Miscarriage
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Kenya Harris, who was an expecting mother in 2011, has filed a suit against the Albany Police Department in Georgia, alleging that a physical altercation between her and an officer lead to her miscarriage.
Georgia Woman Files Suit Alleging Police Beating Led to Miscarriage
Reviewed by Anonymous
on
February 16, 2015
Rating: 5
The Problem with Dove's "Love Your Curls" Campaign
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by Kinsey Clarke
I wear my hair in its natural state. It is full, glorious, and the embodiment of my character. My hair is full of kinks that grow upward and out toward the sky in a way mainstream beauty standards cannot appreciate. I love my hair, but I also know that my luscious locks are not valued by most.
The Problem with Dove's "Love Your Curls" Campaign
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 16, 2015
Rating: 5
Lesbian Couple's Custody Battle with Sperm Donor Could Set Legal Precedent
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A lesbian couple from Salem County are locked in a custody battle over their son after a sperm donor sued them for parenting time.
Lesbian Couple's Custody Battle with Sperm Donor Could Set Legal Precedent
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 15, 2015
Rating: 5
6 Ways to Give Yourself Some Love This Valentine's Day
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Either you have date plans for this Saturday or you plan to spend the holiday solo. If it's the latter, don't worry; regardless of your relationship status, everyone deserves some TLC this weekend. In reality, receiving love on Valentine's Day doesn’t require the presence of romance. It's as simple as targeting your affection towards you, the one who deserves love the most.
6 Ways to Give Yourself Some Love This Valentine's Day
Reviewed by Anonymous
on
February 14, 2015
Rating: 5
Standing in Solidarity with the Victims of the #ChapelHillShooting
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by Dee Rene
In 2005, I was a student at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill when a student named Jillian Bandes wrote the following sentence in a column of the campus newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel: “All Arabs should be stripped naked and cavity-searched if they get within 100 yards of an airport…” (Bandes would later be fired from the newspaper for her sentiments.)
Standing in Solidarity with the Victims of the #ChapelHillShooting
Reviewed by Anonymous
on
February 14, 2015
Rating: 5
The Importance of Choosing Yourself When Your Partner Ain't Acting Right
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by Diana Veiga
Family legend is as follows: In the early 1900's my maternal great-great grandmother, Amanda, left Alabama with her children to meet her husband, Johnny, in Florida. When Amanda arrived, Johnny was drinking heavily and seeing another woman named Sue. Amanda sat at the fire, poking the ashes (for some reason this is important to the story), and asked Johnny who he loved more—her or Sue. He said Sue. She said cool. (Or you know, the early 1900’s equivalent of cool.) Amanda told the oldest child, Lucille, to write a letter to their people back in Alabama asking them to send her some money; and three weeks later Johnny came home to an empty house.
The Importance of Choosing Yourself When Your Partner Ain't Acting Right
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 14, 2015
Rating: 5
A Conversation on Art, Activism and Black Feminism with Dr. Cheryl Clarke
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Photo: Ann Chapman
Dr. Cheryl Clarke shared with me these words on the importance of creativity within social justice work and movement building during our conversation that covered art, activism, feminism, lesbianism and academia.
A Conversation on Art, Activism and Black Feminism with Dr. Cheryl Clarke
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 13, 2015
Rating: 5
What If the Face of the Anti-Vaxx Movement was a Black Woman?
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by Altheria Gaston
The recent measles outbreak that is purported to have started at Disneyland in December 2014 and has affected at least 155 individuals has re-sparked an already heated controversy about the risks and benefits of vaccinations. Since the 1998 publication of a medical journal research paper linking the MMR vaccine to autism—a paper that was established to be fraudulent and was later retracted—there has been growing public interest in vaccinations. Perhaps the most recognizable face of the anti-vaxx movement is Jenny McCarthy, who once claimed that vaccinations cause autism but now proclaims that she is not an anti-vaxxer. But McCarthy is just one of many mothers on the forefront of the anti-vaccination movement.
What If the Face of the Anti-Vaxx Movement was a Black Woman?
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 13, 2015
Rating: 5
We're Declaring February 13th "Hug a Sista Day"
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by Janice Rhoshalle Littlejohn
This year, we’re claiming Friday, February 13th is “Hug a Sista Day.” While it’s not an officially recognized day in the U.S., it should be. Black women, generally speaking, are a lovely lot. Often maligned and misunderstood, African American women are deserving, and well-overdue, for their own special day of recognition.
This year, we’re claiming Friday, February 13th is “Hug a Sista Day.” While it’s not an officially recognized day in the U.S., it should be. Black women, generally speaking, are a lovely lot. Often maligned and misunderstood, African American women are deserving, and well-overdue, for their own special day of recognition.
We're Declaring February 13th "Hug a Sista Day"
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 13, 2015
Rating: 5
11-Year-Old Girl Charged With Beating 2-Month-Old to Death
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Trina Whitehead, center, in a family photo with her youngest child, Zuri.
The 11-year-old, her mother and the baby, Zuri Whitehead, were on a couch downstairs when the mother fell asleep at about 3 a.m. ET Friday, Wickliffe police Chief Randy Ice said at a news conference Monday.
11-Year-Old Girl Charged With Beating 2-Month-Old to Death
Reviewed by For Harriet
on
February 12, 2015
Rating: 5
Feelin' Ourselves: 10 Things Black Women Do (and Have Always Done) Better
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by Amber Dorsey
Women of color are literally the personification of the phrase, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Since our ancestors touched foot onto American soil, we have successfully navigated our way among the many obstacles that rose up and were presented to us so that the next generations would have it better. Now it’s 2015 and it seems the world has finally begun to realize the amazingness of black women and its doing its damndest to try and keep up. But no matter what, there will always be some things that we just do better. Maybe it’s a black thing.
Feelin' Ourselves: 10 Things Black Women Do (and Have Always Done) Better
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 12, 2015
Rating: 5
Black Feminism and Womanism Have Always Been Crucial to Anti-Racist Work
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by Candace Simpson
Disclaimer: I have long identified as a Black Feminist and a Womanist. These are two separate schools of thought. In this essay, I use these labels interchangeably, because I happen to identify as both. Not everyone does. (It’s always best to ask a woman how she identifies before you label her.)
I was sitting at a happy hour last summer. In the midst of good drinks and good food, someone asked a bad question, followed by an equally bad statement: “Don’t you think feminists are destroying the Black family? We need to go back to the days when women weren’t bitter and worked for Black empowerment.”
Black Feminism and Womanism Have Always Been Crucial to Anti-Racist Work
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 12, 2015
Rating: 5
On Bobbi Kristina and Family Cycles of Mental Illness and Addiction
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by Yirssi
On February 11, 2012, the world responded with deep sadness as media outlets reported beloved singer and entertainer Whitney Houston’s untimely and tragic death. Almost three years later, her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was found in eerily similar circumstances: unresponsive in a bathtub in her Georgia home, before being transported to the hospital in an attempt to prevent history from repeating itself. While news about Bobbi Kristina’s current status has been inconsistent and rumor-based, millions of people are praying that she makes a full recovery.
On Bobbi Kristina and Family Cycles of Mental Illness and Addiction
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 11, 2015
Rating: 5
Nah, Azealia Banks, You're Wrong: Black Women, Gay Men & Politics of Identity
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by Brittany Dawson
Azealia Banks recently argued in an exclusive interview on Sirius XM’s OUTQ radio, a channel centered on exploring topics of LGBTQ interest, that the public is misinterpreting her use of the insufferable homophobic slur f*ggot.
Nah, Azealia Banks, You're Wrong: Black Women, Gay Men & Politics of Identity
Reviewed by Unknown
on
February 11, 2015
Rating: 5
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