__ Featured Image via Liv Bruce
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All articles filed in EMPOWERMENT
Soft Hearts, Hard Anger
They were warned. They were warned of the ones whose smiles soothed the coldest hearts, whose laughter caused the darkest of rooms to alight with fire and song and dance. They were warned of the gleeful, soft souls. Of what became of them when they were pushed. And shoved. And cornered. For it is said…
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A Black Queen Amidst Gentrification
Gentrification (noun): The process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste. Have we ever tried to find beauty within gentrification? A diamond in the rough, if you will? Stylist and model Chi Ilochi, alongside photographer May, also known as naibovisuals on Instagram, made it a point to…
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Freedom: Thoughts on Growing Up as a Teenager
I thought that for my first contribution to the magazine, I should get a little personal to show who I am, or at least show a part of my identity. I define part of my identity as growing up as an only child in a sole parent household. I call it “sole parent” because I…
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WITNESS THIS.
When I was a little girl I used to ask, “Dad, what does ‘can I get a witness’ mean?” Growing up in the church and listening to gospel music constantly. You hear it all the time. I couldn’t quite grasp the concept. So I asked again and my dad would say, “Kristin… it means…
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GOLD
As a woman, people hate when I don’t smile As a black woman, people hate when I smirk A knowing smile Should never belong to me Dumbstruck and following are looks that can get me by. With praise And no regard They comment on the first two in triumph Because they think I don’t know…
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My Own Sugar Daddy, My Own Pimp
Some sex workers Are independent, self-employed Negotiating the game With the forgotten, or unenjoyed Wide lens teaches Wisdom settles into bed “Every partnership has its jail” Beneath the sheets, this soul does not shed It wins them no money Instead a kind of sustenance Sugar-coated power, control An energy here, in abundance Emotional currency Not…
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Lopsided Truth
truth shifts to trust with one required base pair reassignment. … trutH; drop the grand Hoax shush the lies to self and other sink back into your primordial slime reorganize, safely within your self-made cocoon. truSt; add the ultimate Sacrifice to give up who you are emerge with naked wings exposed trusting-self to know, who…
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Weed
I. I’m a weed trying to be a flower. An envious shadow surrounded by loveliness. How I wish to be, to be what isn’t me. I see golden sunflowers standing tall and proud. Roses, daisies, blooming marigolds unfolding into the sun’s kiss. The beauties of the garden dancing delicately in the wind. I still strain…
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