As You Prepare For Pride Parade Today Ask Yourself This One Question

“Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexuals as a discrete and insular minority entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.” – Vice President Mike Pence, 2000. While this statement was made 19 years ago and the LGBTQ+ community now has the right to marry in…

K.O.D.: The Best J. Cole Album Yet?

Since 2010 the world has found a place in the mind and the music of Jermaine Cole. Friday Night Lights, J. Cole’s last mixtape, was a dazzling display of true lyricism that was not only sorely needed at the time but set him on his current trajectory. Coles’ introspection on the project comes from a…

Part Deux: Guide to Having a Tear Free Valentine’s Day

*Sniffs the air vigorously* Anyone smell that??? *sniffs more* Ahhhhhh… I know that smell! Yes… It’s that undeniable scent of sweet nothings being engraved into small, sugar-covered tarts all around the globe. The lovely scent of roses, tulips and, carnations being snipped, wrapped and delivered to homes and office buildings alike. The pungent scent of…

Discovering Gender Fluidity in the Philippines

1. How do you feel your views on masculinity, femininity, and self-identity have changed since living outside the US? Moving to another country and immersing myself in another culture caused me to want to look into, research and explore my own culture more. I started wondering if there were similarities between Filipino and American culture…

Op-Ed: How Trayvon Martin Made Me Quit My Job

Four years ago the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin changed the course of my career and my life. In 2012 while working for Coca Cola the tragic news of the shooting hit. I was devastated and like many of my peers, identified with the slain teenager. I lived in a gated community in Central Florida,…

“How to Do First Dates”

There are moments in your life when you read something and it resonates at a very close and relatable place. This was one of those moments for me. The writer, Ron Anahaw, is a twelfth grader from Towson, MD. His essay perfectly summarizes the first date experience. So much so that I just had to…

The Warmth of Other Suns (Book Review)

The Great Migration—I honestly do not recall having this as a topic of discussion at any point of my education. Not even during Black History Month lessons. I just assumed that eventually, newly freed slaves just sorta drifted to their permanent location. Well, this book was the history lesson I never had and never knew…

From a Bachelor to You: How to Not be Lonely This Valentine’s Day

Well, well, well…ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again. The time of year where all of those “Relationship Goals” posts are put to the test! Half of you all are reserving tables at lavish dining establishments, while the rest of you are compiling playlists with Bryson Tiller and K Michelle at the forefront….