Gatekeeping as Safety and the Identity Question Around Tyla

In a candid exchange with a colleague who is South African Cape Coloured, I asked him about his background, he vaguely stated Southeast Asian and Black African. When I inquired about the country in Southeast Asia and the African ethnicities, he said that “Many Coloureds, like Black Americans, have been dislocated from naming their indigenous African roots because of slavery and the slave trade; there is a current movement to find this information sometimes through DNA.” At the time, this was a bit surprising to me, as I was ignorant of the history of the Coloured population in South Africa*, outside of their mixed ancestry and intermediary position in the South African Apartheid caste system (1948-1994) between Black Indigenous ethnicities of what became South Africa and the white European descended settler population.

Lisa BettyJuly 11, 2024 Comment

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late

We don’t mean to alarm you, but to be honest with you, we should've been alarmed a long time ago. Now it’s too late. Now we’ve reached a point where we will not sugarcoat this for you. We have to get your attention so we can save ourselves.

Tina Strawn & Kirk BaltimoreJuly 4, 2024 Comments

Cassie Deserves Better: A Fucked Up Reminder About Misogynoir

We're in the era of shit coming to light, and the case for Diddy has taken center stage in 2024. In November of 2023, Cassie, Diddy's former girlfriend, filed a civil suit against Diddy for sexual abuse. Diddy and Cassie's team quickly settled the suit without revealing details. Despite settling the suit, social and mainstream media questioned Diddy's inclination toward a payment resolution rather than fighting for his innocence. There was enough social influence that impacted his image, which caused him to lose 18 brand partnerships.

Kirk BaltimoreJune 27, 2024Comment

Fear for Four Years

Isn't it ironic that for each Presidential election over the past few decades, Democrats have taken the opportunity to stress that there is "so much on the line" to their base? Isn't it even more ironic that when in office, the issues that are so pertinent before the election is decided seem to "dwindle" once it's over? And without any hesitation or simulation, "issues" are expected to turn into votes.

Kirk Baltimore & Felicia ThompsonJune 20, 2024Comment

Never Enough: Reflections by An anti-zionist Jewish femme of color

When displaced from your country through adoption and raised by white folks, there is an intense pressure to conform so you can better “fit” with your family. This felt magnified when it came to religion. Going to synagogue felt like being naked at graduation – all eyes on me, literally. At Jew camp, I was worth more points for the simple reason that I didn’t “look Jewish”. When I wore a chai symbol, people assumed it was a pi symbol since being Asian must mean I was a math nerd.

Alex FreeJune 13, 2024 Comment

Sacrifice & Betrayal

Black soldiers who faced racism after serving America. Despite bravely fighting for a country that often regarded them as less than equal, Black soldiers faced unprecedented violence and harassment upon their return home from World War II. Having recently read “Half American” by Matthew F. Delmont, we learned about so many brave Black Americans who risked their lives abroad to defend the freedoms they were denied at home. These stories spurred us to share the atrocities they faced once they returned. Their service uniforms, symbols of their patriotism and sacrifice, often fueled deeper hatred from white citizens and police, leading to brutal assaults, lynchings, and murderers.

AHUS EditorialMay 29, 2024Comment

America: Fuck Your Free Speech

America is a machine designed for the outcomes it was programmed for. It was pre-wired for white supremacy and was fueled by capitalism to preserve racism, classism, oppression, and segregation. And what's most disappointing is that Americans are constantly spoon-fed rhetoric that America stands for things that it doesn't, whether it be our most "sacred" bullshit documents about how everyone is entitled to rights and the pursuit of happiness without any strings attached. And after decades, we find ourselves in another example of how America has once again failed to do what it says it stands for

Kirk BaltimoreMay 23, 2024 Comment

The Cost of Integration: Examining the Consequences of Brown vs. Board of Education

In an age where attacks on DEI, Black Hair, and anything to do with Black Culture are rampant, an uncomfortable reality has been revealed about America's Education System. The reforms seemingly advocating for a more egalitarian society are deeply entrenched in racist white supremacist ideology. Coupled with this reality is the unsettling truth that Black people may have been faring much better before the 1954 passing of Brown vs Board of Education.

Mishel WilliamsMay 16, 2024 Comments