Growing up, my father often used to tell me that it didn’t matter what you did in life; just be the best at it. In fact, my Dad would say, “I don’t care if you end up as being a janitor or a sex worker (OK, Dad’s language was a bit more crass on that …
Watching these January 6th hearings, something occurs to me. You know how republicans claim to be the moral party, but they’re really the most unprincipled, dishonorable, hateful bunch of fascist motherfuckers to rally together since the KKK? Well, if you replace morals with intelligence, the democrats follow the same model. They can’t wait for any …
This post comes thanks to inspiration from a series of conversations I have had in recent months, both within the context of my work as an anti-racism trainer and random conversations with white people. A common theme emerged and, frankly, it is a theme that needs to be addressed head on. When I first wrote …
TODAY’S EPISODE: Use your words…but maybe not some of *those* ones There are some things you just shouldn’t say. If you’ve read me before and if you read this blog in general, you might assume I’m about to rant about avoiding the N-word. Good guess, and not entirely off the mark, but that’s just an …
Joy in hard times
These are strange times that we are living in—and hard ones. To be frank, the world is a dumpster fire. We are two-plus years into an intensifying pandemic that the majority has decided to simply live with or just pretend doesn’t exist. The problem with ignoring problems, though, is that they have a pesky way …
“Benefit of the doubt” gives plenty of room for violence and lies
The local TV news interviewed the Highland Park killer’s uncle. The reporter asked if there had been any warning signs. The uncle repeatedly said “No.” Of course, there were warning signs. There were social media posts and a YouTube manifesto. The shooter attended the rallies of our previous president. The shooter’s father (and brother to …
Nothing and no one is safe with this Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s decision to toss out nearly 50 years of precedent and “settled law” around Roe v. Wade has sent a lot of you into a distress, dismay, and depression. I get it; I really do. It upsets me, too. I do believe all of us are entitled to catch our breath and grieve …
Of course a make-believe pirate hijacked the #MeToo movement
By Liz Henry I couldn’t help but sit back, turn off my screen, and consider: How does one combat a dickfestation? Is there an exterminator for that? Like, for the culture? Of course a make-believe pirate would hijack the progress of the #MeToo movement. I did not watch the defamation trial of Amber Heard and …
Questions and communion
A few nights ago, I had a real-time exchange with a few local acquaintances that gave me pause—and reminded me once again of the work that white-bodied people need to do in anti-racism spaces. In short, the acquaintance, whom I had not seen in some time, was sharing that they had started following me on …
Why all the guns?
There are more guns in this country than people. That is a horrifying and difficult truth. Perhaps an even more difficult truth is that the number of guns—while horrifying and difficult–is not the actual problem. It’s only a symptom. The actual disease is why we buy guns. I know that feels bad to hear and …
Freedom to frolic
Last night, I saw a TikTok video where a woman who was Black was commenting on the wonderful current trend of Black men “frolicking.” The trend is that Black men are recording themselves frolicking joyfully, often in a field, frequently ending by tumbling down into some flowers. The woman’s TikTok (I’m sorry, now I can’t …
Across racial lines, can we be friends?
A few days ago, I was having a routine evening chat with my teen-aged daughter, and she was sharing how she has been targeted for racial harassment on certain social media sites since breaking up with her girlfriend. The young lady she had been dating was white; my kid is not. Despite the ex-girlfriend making …
Ivana Trump Is ours now
In this country you can give a woman money, but she can’t buy her way out of misogyny By Liz Henry If there’s something I am proud I’ve been able to procrastinate successfully, it’s death. Despite my near constant fear, it has so far escaped me. Today, at least, it has escaped me. But the …
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