A strange thing happens when I start seeing someone new. I think about them, a lot, and I start to think about all of the things I usually think about a lot less. That may not seem like that strange of a thing – after all, getting close to someone is exciting. For me, though, … Continue reading Where Have We Gone, Girls?
Being African-American in America means knowing the country was not made for you. I mean this literally, not figuratively: The country was founded with the explicit legal mandate that in America, black people count as three fifths of one person. You learn that countrymen, brothers, and fathers of slaves fought and died to keep black … Continue reading Learning White-American History
"I don't need the right from anybody. I'm taking it." -Russell Brand Within the jaded recesses of my (just shy of) 25 year-old-mind lies the battered remnants of optimism. Santa Claus is not real, NYC Landlords will cheat you out of your security deposit, and the government doesn't actually work. These are truths I've learned … Continue reading The Right to Fight: A ‘Brand’ I Trust
I don't like being called African-American.I've always been pretty fond of being an American. I come from a military family from Texas -- patriotism is required. My appearance is not straight forward, black or white, so people often ask me what I am. Sometimes they ask for my ethnicity, sometimes they ask for my race, but sometimes … Continue reading The Problem Is In The Hyphen
"Everything is not about race." It's true. Most things humans experience in their lifetime are not directly tied to race. Things like finding a reason to get out of bed in the morning, paying bills, educating your children, and feeding said children have little to do with race on the ground when they are happening. … Continue reading “The Race Card”
I wasn't raised a "feminist" (I've written about that before), so I get the knee-jerk reaction against the word feminism. After spending my formative years in Texas it's just not something I go around calling myself. Am I a feminist? Yes, according to the dictionary definition I most certainly am. Usually though, I just prefer … Continue reading The F-Word
Too many bad things happened this week. Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, Israel began a ground mission in Gaza, and children at the southern border of the United States continue to live warehouse-style while politics stifle any resolution. Meanwhile the conversations in the news (from my western POV) reek of the distinct language of dehumanization. … Continue reading This Bad Week In News: Are People Created Equal?
I live in New York City. The reasons I came here are hard for me to identify. For now let’s just say I'm a curious moth inevitably drawn to the flame. Except that analogy doesn’t really work, because unlike the flame that draws the moth, New York is a flame containing high concentrations of learned wisdom that … Continue reading Life Lessons From New York City
I've always cared about what is going on in this country, almost impulsively. Yes, it is my home, yes I am an American, but I tend to care about many issues and people that, if I'm honest, don't directly affect me. I am also a very logical person. I tend to deconstruct things down to their … Continue reading The Selfishness of “Caring”
You know that feeling you have when you get home after a long day and the last thing you want to do is anything besides sit down? What do you usually eat in that time? I bet it's not a fresh, nutritious meal made from scratch (unless you are one of the people several steps ahead … Continue reading Get Home, Get Wine, Eat Food, Summertime
Courtney McKinney 