Best Of, Black Love, Pleasure, Religion Faith and Spirituality, Sex
How is a church like prison and being incarcerated like belonging to a church? Both have a way of asking, “How do you plan to handle potentially lifelong, involuntary celibacy?” Read more. ← On my bicycle, at the intersection of blackness and...
Best Of, Feminism, History, Pop Culture, Race, Rape culture, Trigger warning
“If a woman says she was raped, I believe her, because for all she has to go through, why would she lie?” The words I heard my freshman year in college in a discussion group between black and Jewish women greet me as I unlock my bicycle. Riding my bike often helps me...
Best Of, Pop Culture, Rape culture
Originally published Oct. 17, 2015 Since I see no reason to add to the thousands of think pieces EBONY magazine’s November cover story, “Cosby vs. Cliff,” undoubtedly will spark–and since Awesomely Luvvie won the think-piece...
Best Of, Religion Faith and Spirituality
Originally published Sept. 1, 2015 In my last column for NCR, I wrote about my somewhat surprising desire to find a church home in my new city. I said there that I’m looking for a way to connect with people socially and politically, but there is a third aspect...
Best Of, Black Lives Matter, In the News, Race, Social Justice, Trigger warning
Originally published June 20, 2015 I’m willing to let this one go. Earlier this month, Louisville Metro Police Officer Nathan Blanford shot Deng Manyoun, a Sudanese refugee, after Manyoun attacked him with a flag pole. Though I do believe, can envision, can imagine,...
Best Of, Feminism, Love Single Life and Marriage
Originally published Feb. 17, 2017 I envy Ann Bauer’s life. I began reading her piece for Salon, “‘Sponsored’ by my husband: Why it’s a problem that writers never talk about where their money comes from,” in late January, when it was published and when I saw it...
#BlackChurchSex, Best Of, Love Single Life and Marriage, Religion Faith and Spirituality, Sex
Originally published Dec. 22, 2014 “A Southern Baptism,” Detroit Publishing Co., ca 1900. Library of Congress. One of the reasons I stopped working on my memoir was because when an agent strongly suggested I adapt my essay collection into a linear...
#BlackChurchSex, Best Of, Feminism, Religion Faith and Spirituality, Sex
Originally published Aug. 8, 2014 I hate when I think of a snappy comeback three weeks after a discussion ends. That’s happening right now, as I think of a coversation I had with another American student in our group in Trinidad. I’ll call her...
Best Of, Black Diaspora, Education, Race, Religion Faith and Spirituality, Research and Scholarship, Travel
Originally published July 21, 2014 Despite the photos I’m posting on Facebook and Twitter, this trip isn’t all, or even 10%, about the beach. It’s not a vacation; it’s a short-term academic STUDY abroad program. At the end of these three weeks,...
#BlackChurchSex, Best Of, Beyonce, Feminism, Gender, Pleasure, Pop Culture, Race, Religion Faith and Spirituality, Sex
Originally published Dec. 27, 2013 I said I wouldn’t write about this because I knew I wouldn’t download the album until after Christmas and my commentary would be late and go largely unnoticed, and what more could I add to all that’s already been said anyway? But I...
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