One year ago today, my sister died. My mother, my two nephews and their father were gathered in the conference room down the hall from her room in the hospital when we got the news -- even though her heart was beating and she was breathing (with help), her brain hadn't registered any activity for … Continue reading (Personal) My Sister, One Year Later
Tag: black activism
(Politics) Mindful Resistance
Ever since Michael Brown was shot dead by a police officer in Ferguson, MO I don't think I've been able to reflect on our political situation without a mix of anger, horror or despair. It's been tough to know what to do with these very difficult emotions even at the best of times; when the … Continue reading (Politics) Mindful Resistance
(Politics) What I Want From White People
When I write about contentious subjects here at The Writing Desk, I try to make sure that I use a tone that comes across as collaborative and inclusive. I know what a minefield sociopolitical topics are -- especially on the Internet -- and you can find someone shouting another person down anywhere you can find … Continue reading (Politics) What I Want From White People
(Politics) If Respect Is Mandatory, It’s Not Respect
Earlier this week I received this response from a person named Kenny Stiles to my post on why I'm boycotting the NFL this season. Kenny thinks that the league should make all players stand for the National Anthem; not doing so is "the wrong way to protest" and a slap in the face for all … Continue reading (Politics) If Respect Is Mandatory, It’s Not Respect
(Personal) Spit and Vinegar into Clear Water
I think most Buddhists, if we're really honest with ourselves deep down, flirt with the daydream of what we'd look like enlightened. I know personally I would love to resemble Budai, the eternally-laughing bodhisattva known for his jovial attitude, wisdom, contentment, and the fact that you can rub his belly for good luck. In my … Continue reading (Personal) Spit and Vinegar into Clear Water
(Personal) Cracking Myself Open
One of the earliest memories I have about my mental illness is breaking down in the middle of lunch in sixth or seventh grade. Things were not going well for me. I was a shy and awkward kid who loved reading fantasy books. I was really sensitive, so I didn't hold up to bullying very … Continue reading (Personal) Cracking Myself Open
(Review) Why Black People Don’t Time Travel
Edana Peterson is a writer who works temporary jobs to make ends meet; during one of these jobs, she meets a white, blue-collar worker named Kevin Franklin and falls in love with him. Kevin rejects his racist family in order to marry Dana -- not something that's easy, but it was especially so back in … Continue reading (Review) Why Black People Don’t Time Travel
(Political) The Third Rail: Anger in Activism
The 88th annual Academy Awards aired Sunday night, and like all good cinephiles I watched. It was a last-minute decision, though; with the eruption of protest against the Academy's decidedly monolithic nominations (all 20 acting nominations were white, and there were depressingly few POC, female and other minorities nominated in the other major categories), I … Continue reading (Political) The Third Rail: Anger in Activism
Kwanzaa 2015: Imani (Faith)
Happy New Year, everyone! Aren't you glad that words typed on a scream can't shout? I sincerely hope that this first day of a brand new year is a great one, and that you are able to spend it doing exactly what you want to be doing -- whether that's recovering from last night's festivities, … Continue reading Kwanzaa 2015: Imani (Faith)
Kwanzaa 2015: Kuumba (Creativity)
2015 has been an amazing year for me in a lot of different ways, but one of my absolute favorites is learning about the wonderful people who are putting themselves out there with their stories. This year I got to meet Nora Jemisin (author of "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms") at Writers With Drinks in San … Continue reading Kwanzaa 2015: Kuumba (Creativity)
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 