132 Search results for "toxic people"

Learning when to cut off toxic marginalized people is imperative to Black mental health
The ways I have been hurt by white supremacy are enumerable. Its narcissism and dehumanization cut into me, day by day, like a thousand teeth in my flesh. The anti-Blackness that white supremacy permits, condones, and sustains itself through—whether it be subtle, benevolent, microaggressive, or institutionally and blatantly on display—hurts. Constantly. For me, this has […]
Mental health treatment is a Black tradition, white people just took credit for it
by Imade Nibokun Black people invented mental health treatment before the “pray it away” stigma and the white supremacy that produced it. While Black folks continue to address the stigmas attached to mental illness, we must also acknowledge that Black mental health practitioners existed first. The first known physician in history is an Egyptian architect […]
Orlando Jones was fired from ‘American Gods’ because Black anger makes white people uncomfortable
by Andrew Keahey White supremacy doesn’t allow for Black anger. The second we get even mildly irritated in any way and make the mistake of actually showing it, we’re labeled as irrational, problematic, and even violent. You see it all the time. It’s one of the reasons twitchy white cops use to justify their brutality […]
Why bisexual people don’t owe anyone disclosure of their sexuality
By J.R. Yussuf Today marks the 31st anniversary of National Coming Out Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. A main goal of this celebration is to help create an environment where living openly and honestly is possible. But while coming out can be incredibly validating, a […]
Menstrual cups are for Black people, too
by Neesha Powell-Twagirumukiza I’m on a self-ordained mission in the name of periods. A few months ago, I came across a story in Teen Vogue about Black people who menstruate and are disgusted by menstrual cups. As a Black menstruator whose quality of life improved once I began using menstrual cups, I charged myself with […]
#MeToo era sees surge in colleges tackling toxic masculinity on campus
Garrett Robinson, a senior running back on the Brown University football team, recently helped to teach a training session for the incoming freshman members of the team. But this was no ordinary football training. It was a training about how not to replicate the aggression of football off the field, the likes of which have […]
Growing up in an anti-Black family: A message for Black people who consider kids with white partners
By Taylor Lamb Every Black person has a story of the first time they remember experiencing anti-Blackness. A slur from a stranger. A disrespectful comment from a teacher. A childhood friend not being allowed to play. It comes in varying degrees but we all have a story. What did you do when that happened? Did […]
Reflecting on my toxic relationship with a mother who never loved me
by Kya Warnsley Once upon a time, there seemed to be a widely-shared norm among Black families in America in which children were being forced to abide by the “What goes on in this house, stays in this house” ideology. No matter what was going on behind closed doors, it had to be handled amongst the […]
Toxic masculinity & guns: Mother of victim says daughter rejected shooter before Texas slaughter
According to Sadie Rodriguez, the mother of 16-year-old school shooting victim Shana Fisher, her daughter was killed because she rejected the advances of shooter Dimitrios Pagourtzis for four months, culminating in a final rejection in front of their class. Rodriguez told the Los Angeles Times, “A week later (Pagourtzis) opens fire on everyone he didn’t like, […]
The Black barbershop is both toxic and intimate for cishet Black men
by Da’Shaun Harrison Disclaimer: this piece was written with the intent to create a productive dialogue around intimacy and attraction. It is not to say that the connection between barber and client is inherently sexual, but rather that the erotic/intimacy/attraction operate on a spectrum.
Local governments still haven’t done much about toxic wastelands in communities of color
As a child, my grandfather took my brother and me to a park in a Jacksonville, Florida African-American suburb. The park included standard kid-approved characteristics: The swings, grass, seesaws, sunshine and instantaneous friendships formed during play. Then, my grandpa learned that the park was constructed on a toxic site. He never took us back. I […]
Bill Cosby wants to lecture people on sexual-assault, seriously
Do you remember the outrage the first time O.J. Simpson tried publishing a book titled If I Did It? This may be even worse. Bill Cosby wasted no time when it comes to capitalizing on the mistrial that was declared in his sexual assault case last week. Known just as much for his comedy as he is […]