To what country do I owe my national pride? My first experience around many people of international origin was during my college days in Miami, Florida. If you’re unfamiliar, Miami is a melting pot of people from many Latin American and Caribbean countries. Calle Ocho Festival (an annual block […]
American Patriotism is not for American Black People Read More »
I lived in the American South most of my life—20 years actually: North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, and now Arkansas. And I was born in Georgia. I actually consider myself a northern girl at heart. I was never taught Southern charm. Half of my family is from the Northeast.
Moving to the South- 10 Things Black People Need to Know Read More »
Some of my earliest hair-related memories involve my mom washing my curls in the kitchen sink while I lay on my back on the counter. Water sloshed down my back and splashed my face. I remember the heat of the blow dryer and the burn of the hot comb
Hair Story: A Quest to Minimize My Blackness Read More »
I have a confession to make: When I was in high school and college, I tried erasing as much of my blackness as possible to “fit in.” Let me start at the beginning. I was acutely aware of race as a young child. I can’t say that it had
The Unintended Consequences of Assimilating as a Black Girl in America Read More »
Black people who consume mainstream media are bombarded with negative images about themselves. Unless making a proper effort, black people won’t see positive representations of themselves in books, movies, and other media. Everyone, under the right conditions, is susceptible to feeling inferior to others. But Black Americans are particularly
The Black Writer’s Inferiority Complex Read More »
I’m not sure how much I’ve told you about the characters in my thesis. Probably nothing because in general, I like to keep everything about my stories a secret until I’m satisfied with them. But I will say this: my main characters are black. Race does not determine my
Writing Black Characters Read More »
I thought it would be interesting to focus my book reviews on stories by black authors. And right now, I can’t find anything. That’s when it occurred to me. Where are all the black authors? I work in a bookstore and my access is greater than most. I have the opportunity
Lack of Diversity within Black Adult Fiction, Black Characters, and Black Stories Read More »
