194 Search results for "reflection"

Much has changed for the presence of female emcees since the days of Sha-Rock (I know I’m taking it way back), but the struggle for respect remains nearly impossible. None of my reflections can pin-point the reason why no female emcee has managed to have the world-wide success of Kanye West, for example. These thoughts […]

The unexamined life is not worth living. These are the words of Socrates at his trial for heresy, and after one of the most interactive summers I have ever experienced, I now want to take a moment to both reflect, but also interrogate the concept of privileged reflection. A year ago I wrote, and I […]

This weekend, mourn for the many lives lost on that day, and the many lights extinguished in the years that followed. But also mourn for the missed opportunities, misplaced anger and the many wasted years. And hope and pray for an awakening of compassion, justice and community that is now well-past due.

Black Girls & Coming-of-Age Films Arielle Loren, Clutch Magazine | June 17, 2011 Growing up, I remember the impact of black girl films on my budding personhood. There was: Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (1992), Crooklyn (1994), Our Song (2000), What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away (2002), amongst a few others. While it did feel rare to […]

Before we move entirely away from the Dominique Strauss-Kahn story and on to the next sensational news event, let us take a few things with us. First, let me say the alleged crime committed by Dominique Strauss-Kahn in a New York hotel has pitted American culture against French culture in more than a few ways. […]

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b5b-vNhVdE Hi, My name is Jonathan, and I use masculine gender pronouns like “he” or “him” to express my identity. I have far too often taken for granted how easy it is and how privileged I am to be able freely express my gender without constant repression or ridicule. I think privilege has to be […]

Whatever the name, Black Studies, Africana studies, or African American Studies, university disciplines designed for understanding African history have a problem of attempting to be too Black. When I say “too Black” I’m not saying that Africana culture (relates to both African and African-Diaspora culture) is annoying, but that the way that scholars handle it […]

Aaron McGruder called it. His controversial comic/tv show, Boondocks, clowned the Obama-mania, that seems to be so resilient, back in 2009. Blocked by the historical moment that Obama represents, intellectuals and celebrities have to hush their discontent concerning President Obama—it’s an Obamanation! Excuse me I meant abomination! I’m still recovering. Damn the fool that drew […]

How Do College Students View ‘Blackness’ at PWIs? Liane Membis, Clutch Magazine, February 21, 2011 Students at Yale University are currently pondering over this question through an online project titled Yale Blackness, which was launched this February by the Black Student Alliance at Yale (BSAY), an organization birthed in 1969 with the goals of enhancing Black student […]

Next week is Valentine’s Day. So, I thought I would write an early post about it from the perspective of someone (i.e. me) who deeply desires “soul abiding” relationships, but who struggles greatly in that regard. So, you know what is troubling for me is to look in the mirror and see myself becoming like […]

This post is obviously a week late. I wasn’t able to post it last week but I still wanted to share. The perception that Kwanzaa is inaccessible, and only celebrated by daishiki clad radicals and those of us trying too hard to reclaim our African roots is outdated. I’ve seen more and more that Kwanzaa […]

This month Vibe Magazine featured an open letter from Karrine Steffans telling of her struggle to leave an abusive relationship. What Karrine Steffans is known for is her truth-telling first about the gender and sexual violence of being a “video vixen”in the rap industry and now she is known for her truth telling about her […]