Bridging Feminism’s Gap
I recently received some proof my normal-person job is important. I try to keep my normal-person job (as opposed to my starving artist/struggling writer gigs) away from my blog, but I work in social justice research, so sometimes, my job and my blog can’t help but relate. On a recent episode of Q, I heard [...]
Am I a (Proud) Southerner?
Am I a “Southerner?” Yesterday’s Talk of the Nation made me want to say, “Yes!” I was in the car with my mom when the segment, “What Does It Mean to Be a Southerner?” aired, and nearly every time someone called in, they said something I had either just said to my mom or that [...]
How My Friend Learned Rape Is Wrong
When my mother and I heard the verdict in the Steubenville rape trial, we wondered why only two people were on trial. Clearly, there were other people responsible: Who provided the alcohol? Whose home did this happen in? Who took the photo of the boys carrying the unconscious girl by her arms and legs? Who [...]
The Most Important Ingredient for a Good Sex Scene
As you may know, I spent much of this week at AWP’s 2013 conference in Boston. On the last day, I attended a panel on how to write a good sex scene. The panelists read from their own works and from those of other writers who they think have written sexual intercourse well. Some of [...]
Feminism and the Future of Whiteness
Last week, I went to a talk entitled, “The Future of Whiteness.” Philosopher Linda Alcoff talked about how white people see themselves as they become the minority in the U.S. Unfortunately, I didn’t process all the information fast enough, and I missed the opportunity to ask Alcoff what I now think is an important question: [...]
Why I Rise
Today I’m joining what I hope will be billions of women all over the world in celebrating “One Billion Rising,” a movement to end violence against women. According to the One Billion Rising website, “a billion women – one of every three women on the planet – will be raped or beaten in her lifetime.” [...]
Even When It’s Not on ‘The List’
I think Olivia Pope was wrong about herself on last night’s “Scandal.” I don’t think she wants painful love (which would also be oxymoronic love.) I think she just wants what she wants, even when it’s not on The List. You know, The List of All the Things That Indicate A Black Woman’s Life is [...]
Sexy, Feminine, Sensual, Tough: Beyonce’s Perfect Blend
When I saw the tweets below last night from Dr. Kaila Story, an assistant professor at the University of Louisville and the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality Studies there, I had to agree. And then I had to figure out why. The sensual, sexy feminine part was obvious: It’s in [...]
Bringing Black Churches into Reproductive Justice
(For the first Faith & Feminism Friday of 2013, I’m a guest contributor on the “Feminism and Religion” blog. The post starts below and continues there.) I don’t expect to hear anything in church about the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade during the month of January, the month marking 40 years since the U.S. [...]
Why Race Should Matter to Pro-Choice Activists
As I progress with subsequent drafts of my book, I’ve been meeting with another writer for accountability and feedback. In a recent session, we talked—in hushed tones in a coffee shop—about my book being full of themes and situations black women don’t talk about within their own families. They may discuss these topics with [...]
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