I see a Swift Boat sinking…

For the last few days I’ve been seeing a lot of spasming about Barack Obama having an easier time of things with reporters because sexism makes them go after Hillary Clinton. Which sounds great as long as you ignore quite a few elephants in the room. Little things like her writing herself a check for [...]

“I’ve grown to love complexity”

It’s a common misconception that writers create characters or situations that have a direct parallel to their lives or the people they know. It’s not always that straightforward, and many times happens on a deep, unconscious level. For Black History Month, I’ve invited a few writers to explore how history — whether personal [...]

“I’m a die-hard multiculturalist as a result of my very existence”

It’s a common misconception that writers create characters or situations that have a direct parallel to their lives or the people they know. It’s not always that straightforward, and many times happens on a deep, unconscious level. For Black History Month, I’ve invited a few writers to explore how history — whether personal [...]

The Strong Woman* & Emasculated Man

Posted by: Naamen Gobert Tilahun
The nicknames are endless, bitch, ballbuster, battleaxe, ballcutter, … all of these are used in reference to a strong woman. When confronted with a woman who exudes strength the automatic reaction of some men is to fall into the whole “woe is me, she emasculated me” line of thought. The introduction [...]

Blood Done Sign My Name

Review by transgressingengineer
First off, thanks to ABW for the invite to blog over in her neck of the woods. I am a big fan of her blog and have been looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to her blog with a (hopefully) meaningful post.
About two years ago, I read a book that [...]

“How can we conjure the wondrous world we believe in?”

It’s a common misconception that writers create characters or situations that have a direct parallel to their lives or the people they know. It’s not always that straightforward, and many times happens on a deep, unconscious level. For Black History Month, I’ve invited a few writers to explore how history — whether personal [...]

“Each turn of a writer’s imagination creates a different history”

It’s a common misconception that writers create characters or situations that have a direct parallel to their lives or the people they know. It’s not always that straightforward, and many times happens on a deep, unconscious level. For Black History Month, I’ve invited a few writers to explore how history — whether personal [...]

Change or Die

Posted by: Karnythia
Students march 7 miles to vote in Waller County Texas. I had a vague plan to write about the Democratic candidates and the idea of “In our lifetime” and what it means to women (of all races) as well as what it means to black people. But then this story hit the wire [...]

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees…

Posted by: Shark-Fu
In remembrance of those who lost their life due to the violent hatred of others.
Strange Fruit was written by Lewis Allen and made famous by the fantabulous Billie Holliday.
Breathe in…exhale…begin.
Enough.
Southern trees bear strange fruit.
That’s right, I said enough.
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root.
I am sick and tired people casually [...]

Are Women or Blacks More Disadvantaged?

Posted by: Steven Barnes
Recently, a question has been bandied about the airwaves and internet. Which causes more pain: Being black or being female?
There is only one group who can answer that question, and I’m not a member.
Only African-American women have personal experience with both femininity and blackness.
I’ve [...]