No one can deny that Megan Thee Stallion is a hardworking artist. She continued to release content throughout the pandemic, and this past summer, she stirred the pot by co-releasing “WAP” with Cardi B; their record went platinum. With her beautiful curvy body and bold lyrics, the Houstonian rapper is a clear showstopper.

Fans can easily find photographs of the self-proclaimed “hot ebony” on social media and in any major search engine. Yet not everyone loves her newest photos. Her latest photo shoot in Harper’s Bazaar has some of her fans fuming. They insisted that Collier Schorr’s images missed the…

Black Women Matter

their feelings are valid too

makes space for anger

Society puts unrealistic expectations onto Black women, namely that they must act accordingly or get slapped with the angry Black woman trope. While some view this stereotype as a harmless generalization, diminishing Black women’s feelings is no laughing matter. The harm caused by racist tropes are two fold — they dehumanize the marginalized group while simultaneously trying to control them. The angry Black woman trope aims to characterize Black women as over-the-top, out of control, and monstrous.

In the aftermath of slavery and the resulting social, economic, and…

This year, Americans should take an extra moment to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s compelling message. He delivered speeches that inspired people from all walks of life. His campaign challenged the status quo. King wanted America to become a country that judges people on their character as opposed to skin color. However, some people interpret his campaign in different ways. It matters what Americans tell themselves about King because his rhetoric provides a framework for ongoing discussions about civil rights.

King rejected the theory of American exceptionalism and instead embraced American potential. The change did not come easy during…

Donned in her sharp yellow blazer, Amanda Gorman delivered verses befitting this historical moment. She looked ahead, addressing a socially distanced crowd. In her poem, The Hill We Climb, she painted a picture of American democracy as bruised but still standing. Gorman’s poem addressed the need for reconciliation because of those who threatened democracy. She finished writing the inaugural poem while watching scenes from the dreadful insurrection unfold in Washington DC.

We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But…

Not all white people

They cry time and time again

They have white privilege

Many white people hate hearing the phrase “all white people.” They seem to think that labeling all of them as anything is fundamentally wrong, and worse off — racist. However, when we unpack their invisible knapsack we see that their lived experiences are shaped by whiteness. Not every white person holds overtly racist beliefs. Nevertheless, all white people benefit from white privilege. The benefits they receive derive from their ancestors’ oppressive system.

Some white people think that they had to own slaves or have their forefathers…

Join us for our weekly Writers and Editors of Color meeting at 12 PM EST. on the Clubhouse App. We have a special guest who you should get to know — Hal H. Harris. He will discuss his experiences as a writer and an editor of Established in 1865. I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

During our meeting, we will share some tips and tricks on how to become a successful writer throughout the Medium universe and beyond. And as usual, we will open the floor for comments, questions, and ideas from WEOC members. For now…

White people don’t just take issue with my tone and tenor as a Black writer. They clinch their pearls when they read my work because I rarely capitalize the “w” in white. It wasn’t some nefarious plot either — it came to me quite naturally. I just feel that it gives credence to a racial group that is both omnipresent and nonexistent. Let’s break it down.

Black people come in all shapes, sizes, and from different origin countries. But right now, I’m talking about Black people from America. And the reason why I’m using this level of specificity is that…