Ida B. Wells is the Blueprint: Black Memphis Loved her. White Memphis, Not So Much.
Ida B. Wells did the same kinda work I do. She gathered the people’s stories. Except she sought out the heartbreaking but necessary memories. And it breaks my heart that
Activism Ain’t Just MLK’ing. It’s Katherine Dunham and Dancing. It’s Octavia Butler and Sci-Fi.
[artwork by Melvin Beasley] When we think of activism, we think of Martin, Malcolm, Rosa, Fannie, and the likes. We think of people on microphones in churches and on Capitol
Sister Souljah + Krak Teet for Kids
I shared in my journal entry a couple days ago how I’ve been walking/running (most days) to shake up the way I’m honoring my ancestors. Just for the month of
Pac + Afeni’s Lesson on Shaming + Naming
It’s Tupac’s birthday! Many folk, myself included, don’t know much about Afeni other than her being Tupac’s mom. I knew that she was a Black Panther and that she was
Women’s History Month – Darlene Shamsid-Deen
Ms. Darlene Shamsid-Deen reminds me not to settle. She didn’t tell me that; her life showed me. I met her last year after agreeing to write her husband’s autobiography. Even
Maroons: The Ancestors They Don’t Want You to Know About
Some Africans self-emancipated after plotting for months and years. some peeped an opportunity and chose right there in the moment to get the tf on. some escaped the auction block, fresh off the
Your Past is Bigger Than You: It’s Family + Community History. It’s Black History.
Writing other people’s life stories–whether it’s a couple paragraphs or an entire book–taught me a valuable lesson. That is: Personal history is family history, and family history is community history
February 13th is Clara Belle Williams Day
A friend texted me a picture one evening saying that I favored the woman so much she thought it was me. I didn’t agree. Less than 15 minutes later, a