Cursory research into the life of Carver reveals a sort of apolitical figure, someone who cared about peanuts and plants and little more. This could not be further from the truth. George Washington Carver lived and eventually died not knowing the exact date nor year in which he was born. Born into a family of...
Author: Devyn Springer (Devyn Springer)
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Words Mean Things: Reclaiming Martin Luther King Jr. From The Grips of Imperialism
King’s spirit is that of a true revolutionary which can never be distorted to the point of no return, and will always live on for those who need it. In schools across the United States, few Black names grace the pages of curricula as frequently and with more energy than that of Dr. Martin Luther...
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“Our Sin Was Being Indigenous, Leftist, and Anti-Imperialist” — A Primer On Bolivia’s US-Backed Coup
Morales was not only Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, but he has become a beacon of hope for the colonized world throughout his tenure as president. “I am resigning just so that my sisters and brothers, leaders and authorities of the movement towards socialism, are not harassed, persecuted, and threatened,” Evo Morales, the democratically elected president...
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When Incarcerated People Strike, The World Should Listen And Respond
Without mass actions like the current nationwide prison strike, which bring direct awareness to the issue, these stories go largely underreported. Note: Due to the safety of the incarcerated individuals, some names were changed to allow anonymity. We speak carefully on the phone, fully aware that anything said can become grounds to get him sent...
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I Can’t Hear In That Ear: Abuse Affects Queer Relationships Too
When I found myself as the victim within an abusive relationship, one that was marred by queerness, blackness, and a profoundly turbulent love resonating between the two of us, I was stunned into submission. [TW/CW: descriptions of emotional abuse and physical violence.] Last month while sitting in a smoke lounge on the westside of Atlanta,...
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Black Poetry and Black Rage for Giovanni Melton
Being a Black poet is being stuck in this in-between, an inherently political place to be. TW/CW: mentions of homophobia and murder “In every human Beast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance.” – Phillis Wheatley When I heard the news of...
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Words Mean Things: Understanding Colonialism
Colonization is the act of forcefully stripping sovereignty of a country through acquisition of land, resources, raw material, and governmental structures. My turn to state an equation: colonization = “thing-ification.” – Aimé Césaire The use of social media as a powerful tool for free education on various topics continually rises, with definitions, experiential narratives, and...
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10 Podcasts You Should Be Listening To In The Era of 45
It is important to uplift the podcasts that seek to educate and engage the listener beyond the common, mainstream political dialog. Podcasts have become an increasingly popular medium of communication, being used for entertainment, news and political commentary, and educational purposes. Finding a good podcast to get into can be difficult as you search through...
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This Labor Day, Don’t Forget About Incarcerated People.
This Labor Day all activists, organizers, advocates, and progressives need to remain cognizant of the plight of the incarcerated, whose labor often is left out of the discourse. By Devyn Springer While Labor Day has become synonymous with simply being known as the long weekend filled with barbecues, cheap cocktails, and laughs with friends, it is historically much...
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We Need Valerie Castile’s Righteous Black Rage
Valerie Castile’s words of anger and mourning mix into a strong potion of Black rage, one that is holy in its justification and righteous in its power. By Devyn Springer TW// Police Brutality, Violence, Death A little under a year ago on July 6th, Philando Castile was shot and killed by officer Jeronimo Yanez while...