Michaela Coel turned down Netflix’s offer because she recognized her worth. She questioned the ways they planned on exploiting her and found a better plan. People always say to “know your worth.” “Recognize your value.” “Stand in your power.” “Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve.” But this always turns into a public debate...
Author: Clarkisha Kent (Clarkisha Kent)
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Abusive White Men Thrive in The Film Industry
Within the film industry white male directors employ abusive tactics and create hostile work environments in the name of genius and so-called authenticity. TW/CW: mentions of rape and abuse. You know one of the quotes I hate the most? “No pain, no gain.” There are several reasons I absolutely loathe this quote that masquerades as...
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After 131 Years of Incremental Changes, Aunt Jemima Is Finally Leaving
The Aunt Jemima logo changed slightly over time to appease us, but it’s in our best interest to reject incremental change and fight for radical liberation. 2020 has been the year of the gargantuan paradigm shift. The year of astronomical moves toward progress. The year of a collective Tower moment that completely obliterates the existing,...
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Ancestral Worship Helped Me Begin Healing From Generational Trauma
I’ve been immersing myself in ancestral religions—starting, obviously, by diligently trying to forge a genuine connection with my immediate ancestors. TW/CW: This essay mentions r/pe “Women leave in inches.” I don’t know who said this goddamn gem of a quote, but I’ve found it to be heavily applicable to my life. I took such an...
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Can Y’all Leave Black Girls Like Marsai Martin Alone?
Black girls’ existence, like Marsai Martin’s existence, is hyper-scrutinized in an effort to break them and their spirit. This essay mentions sexual violence and discusses r/pe culture “Protect Black girls,” they said. It’s always a nice exercise in imagining the fantastical when people pretend that these are things that already happen in our world. But...
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Let’s Not Be So Quick to Deify Angela Davis
We should be wary of deifying Angela Davis. Deification strips people (but particularly Black people, and especially Black women) of our humanity. “Why?” I’m like 99.9% sure this is what you, dear reader, thought as soon as you read this title. But, bear with me, as I promise it’s not what you think. To be...
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All Cops Are Bastards… Especially to Service Workers
Because of how the service industry is structured and affected by very real oppressions, service workers the perfect prey for state-sanctioned bullies like the police. Did you read that title? Good, because I mean that shit. But in the interest of writing from a slightly different perspective on things, let’s just say that I meant...
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We Fight Together: 17 Black Anti-Imperialists to Radicalize You
White supremacy compels us to analyze how anti-imperialism is a necessity in our resistance against oppression. All of our struggles are intertwined. We are living in a particularly radical time right now. Seriously. I feel like everyone says that every couple of years, but this feels different. The energy in the air is different, so...
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60 Books J. Cole Could Have Read Instead of Writing That Goofy Ass Song
It’s not that hard to read. Here is a list of books that J. Cole should have read before he opened his fucking mouth. This essay mentions sexual assault. Jermaine Lamarr Cole is an odd nigga. A perplexing negro. A puzzling, but damning study on the complete lack of imagination, empathy, and capacity for growth...
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We All Failed Oluwatoyin Salau. All of Us.
At every turn in her life, Oluwatoyin was failed by all the people, all the places, and all the entities that were supposed to protect her. TW/CW: suicide ideation, murder, anti-Blackness, domestic/interpersonal violence, and sexual assault. I should not be here. This, of course, does not help my suicide ideation. But… I think about that...