Ever since I’ve returned to the United States from my vacation in Colombia, I have been attempting to put into words the magic that was Palenque. The locals of the town call it Africa in Colombia because when Cartagena got its independence from Spain, they fled to Palenque and developed the first free African nation … More Africa In Colombia
Growing up I remember hearing exciting stories about my parent’s upbringing. They told me all about how the nineties were for them. I always enjoyed hearing the stories and seeing the old photos. They loved to talk about it and I loved to listen. Most of the time they could give exact locations on where … More The Void of a Black American
Every day I ask myself, why me? What makes me special? Why would anyone care about my story? How exactly am I like Jose Vargas, Julissa Arce, and the many other immigration writers I admire and aim to emulate? Before having books published, Jose Vargas found success as a journalist, and Julissa Arce reached success … More Undocumented Value
The only thing more painful than growing up as an undocumented immigrant, was finding myself — my true self — as a mixed girl with nurturing of only one of those elements. It’s not lost on me that as a child, being in public places with a white woman by my side allowed me to … More My Self/Black Girl Magic
Digital activism campaigns are an effective means of protest in our modern-day society. These campaigns are beneficial in rebuilding communities and providing a circle of support. Thousands of young TikTok users and Kpop fans were given credit the small Tulsa turnout. On June 20th, 2020, Trump appeared in Tulsa to what was expected to be … More How Digital Activism Campaigns Build Community
When thinking about immigration, it’s easy to focus on the plight of undocumented and dacamented people, as if they were the only ones affected by America’s immigration policy and climate of hate towards immigrants. I am guilty of viewing the citizen children of immigrants as lucky and carefree Americans. That started to change the day … More Paz Ellis on the plight of Citizen Children of Immigrants
Current events have led me to dissect the well known quote “All my skinfolk ain’t kinfolk.” This quote, which was said by my Triumphant Soror Zora Neale Hurston, means that someone can inhabit a black body and be an agent of white supremacy. Because of the ongoing pandemic, people around the world have been forced … More All Skinfolk Ain’t…
(image courtesy of Shutterstock) I don’t think there has been a louder anti-racism revolt since the Civil Rights Movement. The Black Lives Matter revolution that we are witnessing right now is opening the eyes of America– including white Americans — to the violent systemic racism that exists in the United States. It is inspiring protests … More Black Lives Matter in Brazil, Too. #VidasNegrasImportam
This one time in 2020… I had to tell my son about his chocolate skin in America… How his skin is so dark he might be mistaken for a monkey or a hoodlum. How his big natural curly afro can be offensive to some people with no melanin in their skin. How to keep his … More Little Brown Boy
Riding along on my way Trying to have my best day Look back in my rear view mirror and what do I see Two police officers behind me My mood changes from happy to fear My stomach is in knots as I begin to think About all the things that could happen I just want … More The America I See
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