In 2018, supporters of President Trump were protesting a congressional effort to pass legislation on immigration reform. Part of this protest, according to staffers in the Arizona Legislature, involved singling out dark-skinned Democratic lawmakers. While the armed protestors asked everyone if they supported illegal immigration, only those with brown skin were called “illegal.” One representative, Eric Descheenie, told Arizona Capitol Times that he stepped in to defend a yo

Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell My parents agreed they wanted four kids, just not all at the same time. We were born at almost thirty weeks, I the smallest at two pounds, twelve ounces. And for the first week I was doing great, the best out of the four of us, then I came down with necrotizing enterocolitis . A condition that, if left untreated, I would die from. But operating on a week old premie was a risk in itself. The first operation was to remove the majorit

"‘A republic, if you can keep it.’ Our responsibility is to keep it.” - Benjamin Franklin When questioned by the soon-to-be American people as to what kind of government our founding fathers had created, Franklin’s answer was twofold. What they had, and more importantly the obligation it now demanded of us. Well here I am again. Making as impassioned a plea that I can for the sake of us all. Sadly, the onus of saving us all falls most heavily on one group of us. White p

Kamala Harris first received national attention when Peter Byrne wrote a 2003 profile piece on her, entitled Kamala’s Karma, which documented her career up to that point. She had been seeing success in the then-ongoing election for San Francisco District Attorney. The piece covered how while her rivals largely shared her platform, they still attempted to hurt her through sexist optics. They implied that due to a political appointment she received from mayor Willie Brown while

What I hope to accomplish in this work is to build a roadmap of not just philosophy, but behavior based in actions that will slowly turn our individual and collective heads toward something more civilized. Something more aspirationally American. In many respects, we are the best place to aspire to what I propose. I hope to give perspectives that can be used at all ages and for everyone who believes in our better personal, familial, communal, and global selves. I say all

“Am I then more of an American than those who drew their first breath on American ground?” - Alexander Hamilton, 1795 Each year on July 4th the United States celebrates independence for our ancestors who did not draw their first breath on American ground. Eighty-nine years after the declaration of independence was signed, a day of delayed emancipation was celebrated on June 19th (Juneteenth)

We are, right now, in the midst of the largest moment of social clarity that we have experienced in almost two generations. It is hard. It will ask a great deal of everyone. I take exception with anyone who thinks it is good. If you think that all the pain and destruction we are struggling through now is "good" you should should seek psychological help. It is necessary. It would be "good" if it were not necessary because that would mean that we were probably having the r

The last few weeks of media coverage, for as tragic as it has been, offer a clear line from thought to action when it comes to the grim reality that Black people have suffered through for far too long in this country. I want to start and end with as much compassion that I can bring to the table. For all that is going on, COVID-19 and all its byproducts have only escalated tensions. Financial, job, and health insecurities on top of an uncertain future are hard enough to deal

I do not consider myself an expert in much of anything; not even myself. Were that so, I believe that I would already own an island somewhere and be the benevolent despot of my own utopian state. I do not consider myself an academic. Though I hold a deep and abiding love on knowledge, I do not hold any degree in any disciplines that would make me expert in much of the historical, sociological, psychological or other information that I reference in this work, but I am not (

I have traveled across this country more times than I can remember. Hopping ocean to ocean and so many places in the between. As a performer of my own work and even when I am performing for others. I am almost never doing it where I live. Flying and driving distances that have kept me in constant separation from the regularity and comfort that so many struggle to maintain. I have had to find what comfort and regularity I can in the inconsistent jump about that has made up