you look beautiful.
no, really.
the kind of beautiful that makes people cry
even when they don’t know why.
lace like mist around your shoulders,
lilies lining the aisle,
his hands steady, waiting—
& you, smiling like you believe it.
& maybe you do.
mostly.
It’s no secret that American politicians have used their positions for self-gain. Members of Congress who are conveniently involved in the public financial framework have the advantage of knowing government funding for potential undertakings, regulations, and the calculations of tax rates, while also holding on to the power of their votes; yet, nothing is stopping them from being able to abuse the stock market and trading systems.
Read MoreWhite mediocrity, by nature, is fragile and unable to stand on its own. And that’s why it attempts to dismantle the floor so that no one can stand independently. It’s like snatching the PlayStation controller from your younger brother when he’s mercilessly beating you at a game you taught him to lose. No one is more obsessed with those who are winning the game than the creators of the game itself. The USA was built on oppression, and despite ongoing inequality, segregation, the wealth gap, and unequal access to resources, those who have been disenfranchised, exploited, and oppressed continue to outshine those who designed the systems
Read MoreIn the USA, health insurance is a privilege. Many health care plans have literal tiers—like platinum vs. bronze—where you either get basic care despite paying thousands for insurance or end up with essentially worthless coverage and massive out-of-pocket costs. Approximately 60% of Americans under 65 rely on employer-sponsored insurance –whose cost has risen beyond inflation and wage growth. In 2019, a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and LA Times found that 2 in 5 adults with employer health insurance reported difficulty affording medical care, prescription drugs, or premiums.
Read MoreNow, it is one thing for Black Americans to choose that they don’t want to leave the United States for any number of reasons. But it should be the right of every American, Black or otherwise, to choose to stay or choose to leave. Is it freedom if we are forced—directly or indirectly—to stay?
Read MoreAs we anticipate Pete Hegseth's confirmation as Secretary of Defense, I can't help but chuckle at the hypocrisy of the Right's crusade against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The entire confirmation hearing serves as a stark illustration of why DEI initiatives are not only necessary but critical to the functioning of our nation.
Read MoreHey folks, I had hoped to begin 2025 with a message of kindness and optimism, a fresh start for a new year. But as the headlines poured in—the truck attack in New Orleans, the cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, and the shooting outside a club in Queens—it became clear that relief would not come easily. And then Ohio added its own bullshit with the passage of H.B. 315.
Read MoreYesterday, the world lost a powerful voice, the legendary poet Nikki Giovanni. For me, her passing brings to mind how profoundly her work shaped not only my understanding of poetry but, more significantly, my sister Janine’s life and work. Janine, a poet in her own right, first introduced me to Giovanni’s words. Through her, I saw how Giovanni’s poetry uplifted and provoked, celebrated joy, and confronted injustice—always with grace, compassion, and unwavering truth.
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