by Tabias Olajuawon This essay contains discussion of anti-Black violences, particularly lynching, and mention of r/pe “… Ancestors, you will find us still in cages, Despised and disciplined. You will find us still mis-named. Here you will find us despite.     You will not find us extinct. You will find us […]
In Brownsville, Texas, an old Walmart sits along the Mexican border. Today, it has been transformed into a safe haven, a lively city, and a home called “Casa Padre” for over 1,400 immigrant children.
I have always wanted to be strong. Not strong as in a Strong Black Woman™—an expectation of impossible emotional and spiritual fortitude against a world imbued with misogynoir. Strong as in twenty three-time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams. Powerful as in Olympic Shot Putter and gold medalist Michelle Carter. Formidable as in the Dora Milaje […]
by Nathaniel Phillips This essay contains spoilers for Shonda Rhimes’ For The People. A whistleblower is hunted by the US government for stealing highly sensitive information about the deportation of undocumented immigrants—medical records that should’ve been confidential and beyond the purview of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Her lawyer flips the script on the government […]
As detailed by a recent article in Time, as the Nazi Party came into power in the 1930’s, Hitler saw the existence of gay men in Germany as a threat to his philosophy of a new and purified Germany because they could not bear children. During this period, gay friendly bars and clubs were shut down, […]
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, singer/rapper Janelle Monae revealed that her sexuality is fluid, telling the magazine, “Being a Black queer woman in America-someone who has been in relationships with both men and women–I consider myself to be a free ass motherfucker.” Monae continued, “Later I read about pansexuality and was like ‘Oh […]
Content Warning: This essay contains discussion of sexual violence against a child and a mention of r/pe Listen. I cannot deal with either one of these women, especially after sitting through this episode of OWN’s Fix My Life. I came across a short clip of what happened in Auntie Iyanla’s Legacy Room (to be explained […]
April is Black Women’s History Month. Throughout this month, Black Youth Project is celebrating Black women. This month is also National Minority Health Month, Autism Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month. We are interested in publishing works that address these topics and the things surrounding them. This essay contains brief descriptions […]
by Jamila Mitchell If Black voices in a “movement” are auxiliary to everything, then it is not a “movement” that intends to end anti-Blackness, and is certainly not meant for Black people. Politics in America have proven that issues which affect predominantly Black people are not a priority, even in liberal social movements like March […]
A new study from the Brookings Institute reveals that around half of the prison population had no earnings in the years leading up to their incarceration. That number goes up to 80 percent when analyzing only the year before their incarceration. The study examined both IRS filings and the BJS National Prisoner Survey to come […]
*Editor’s Note: March is National Disabilities Month and our themes at Black Youth Project are Ableism & Physical and Mental Health. We are interested in publishing works that address these topics and the things surrounding them.* Something is wrong with my liver. That’s what the test results my doctor sent to my inbox say, at […]
by Andrew Keahey I remember being put to bed by my Mother when I was a small child. I remember feeling my head start to bob and my eyes start to droop as I tried unsuccessfully to watch the late night shows that the grown ups got to watch. She would scoop me up in […]
