Hi Readers, I can't wait for you to read this guest post written by the talent that is Ophelia Akanjo. In Homecoming, Ophelia details the relationship between a young girl and her father, and the comfort that can be found in food. XO, Dani When I was eleven, my father came home again. It … Continue reading Homecoming
Category: creative writing
What My Mother Should Know
The second installment of the Powerful Poetry series was written by the wonderful poet Abyssinia Pla El and highlights feminism, identifying as a woman, and generational differences. The accompanying illustration "Let It" was drawn by her sister Tiphareth Pla El. XO, Dani You'll get over this feminism stage, is what my mother tells … Continue reading What My Mother Should Know
Hurt Me Better
Hi Readers, Very excited to kick off the Powerful Poetry series with a piece by my close friend Lina Akkerman. Raw, honest, and vulnerable, her piece sets the tone for the rest of the series. Enjoy, Dani It’s a form of punishing yourself, she says. The way you used to hurt me is no … Continue reading Hurt Me Better
Bursting at the Seams
Hi Readers, This guest post is by Lisa Kelly, who shares how learning about her family history led her to rename her White Grandma to White Indian Princess Grandma. And how labels cause her to think of how her daughter will respond to assertions about her race. XO, Dani When not slightly hunched over, my grandmother … Continue reading Bursting at the Seams
What’s Your Nationality?
What do you want me to say? I’m American. My family’s American. We have been for hundreds of years. But no one believes me.
Not Just One
In school, when I showed people pictures of my mother during show and tell, my classmates did a double take. They were in disbelief that a fair skinned woman gave birth to the little brown girl they saw in front of them. When I spoke Spanish with other Mexicans, I did not get any responses, just dirty looks and eye rolling. I wanted to know why I couldn’t be a Black girl and a Mexican girl at the same time.
Where is My Father?
I was like him. I was not like my mother who was dead. I was like him. He was alive.
Biracial, Brown, and Baalat Teshuvah
Growing up in Antwerp as the daughter of a Jewish mother and a Muslim-born Senegalese father, I was aware of being Jewish. My mother took me to her side of the family for holidays, she taught me Hebrew songs, and we went to the synagogue once in a while. But I was more aware that my skin tone was brown. Other children made sure I knew. They made racist remarks and teased me.
10 Ways to Say No When Someone Asks to Touch Your Hair
If you have curly hair, chances are you've been approached by a stranger asking to touch it. If you're Black, chances are that said stranger's hand was already in your hair before you could respond. Here are 10 ways to say no when someone asks to touch your hair.
Dominican or Puerto Rican
Ignoring my outstretched hand, with money in it, he leaned over the counter coming closer to me and asked in English, "Why are you ashamed of your Dominican heritage?" To this, I replied curtly, for the man to allow me to purchase the beverage. "Sell mi de bloodclaat Guinness nah man!"
