LIFE & STYLE

Melanin Speaking Small Talks: The Greek Goddess Hera

By Fatoumata Ceesay | Feb. 28, 2019

This week's Melanin Speaking contribution is a collection of photos from Fatoumata Ceesay.

---

LIFE & STYLE

a love letter

Feb. 14, 2019

This week's Melanin Speaking submission is a poem from Jess Sullivan. 

---

LIFE & STYLE

Dear the United States of America: A Letter from Southeast Asian America

Feb. 7, 2019

Dear United States of America, 

---

LIFE & STYLE

Reclaiming Labels

Jan. 31, 2019

This week's Melanin Speaking column piece comes from Noah Laroia-Nguyen, who discusses being mixed in America.  “As a mixed person it is often easy to feel as if you have lost your agency, your choice, and your personhood. The labels and names placed onto you can feel like they are erasing the person underneath. My goal for this work is to reclaim our labels and give us a voice. I hope that these photos let you know that you are not alone and you are not invisible.”

---

LIFE & STYLE

I've Cried

By J Walton | Dec. 1, 2018

I've cried because of hurt Because of happiness Because of understanding and the things from them that mis(s) I have cried because of loss Because of gain Because my mind can never differentiate good and bad The same decipher of glad and mad I've cried because of tears Because of the warmth down one's cheek Like a grandmother's kiss Or a mother’s rubbed knuckle I have cried because I could And with no knowledge of what it means to let go I continue to let tears pour Down my face like water trickling from the shower A wet collar Often stained with black from materials in which makes me look beautiful I have cried And as tears pour down my face I am reminded of my problem That letting go is harder than taking in That even the sturdiest bag does too break That sooner or later, that drenched towel must be wrung dry I have cried And just like being stuck out in the middle of winter for too long I have become numb to the idea of what it means to stop

---

LIFE & STYLE

Fighting Fear: Reactions to 10/27

By Melanin Speaking | Nov. 15, 2018

On Saturday, October 27th 2018, 11 innocent people were killed in their place of worship.

---

LIFE & STYLE

Swipe^2

By Rachel Haynes | Nov. 8, 2018

Swipe Left, Swipe Right Who will I swipe tonight, Am I looking for some fun? Or am I looking for the one? Swipe Left, Swipe Right I got a new match, DM, Alright,  Swipe Left, Swipe Right “I’ve never dated a black  women before...” Unmatched, God, not another one! Swipe Left, Swipe Right How did my friend meet  the one? Did she swipe 24 hours a  day, Was she even having fun? Swipe Left, Swipe Right DM, “Dinner and a movie tonight?” I guess that sounds like fun Swipe Left, Swipe Right One date, two dates,  I think it’s going well Ghosted. Swipe Left, Swipe Right Is this millennial love? Boiled down to a few math    algorithms  And superficial profiles Swipe Left, Swipe Right I could swipe all night Will I ever be happy? Delete. 

---

LIFE & STYLE

Let’s Make a Painting

By Jessica Sullivan | Nov. 1, 2018

This week’s “Small Talk” is another beautiful poem from Melanin Speaking writer Jessica Sullivan, showing the importance of creativity and ingenuity. let’s make a painting. we’ll need all the colors for this one, burgundy, sapphire, teal, gold, brown. pick up your brush don’t you see this space is waiting for us? we’ll unleash a wheelhouse watch our colors collide what we’ll create will be breathtaking.

---

LIFE & STYLE

The Perks of Being a Mermaid

By Jessica Sullivan | Oct. 25, 2018

I’ve always wanted to be a mermaid.  Not for the sexy, mystical persona,  The slim figure sunbathing on a rock, nah,  I want to be a mermaid for the tail.  I want to swim into the waters that swallowed  My ancestors, feel my beautiful glistening tail Power through the waves, go back  Through time, meet all of those who left too soon.  I imagine when we die the earth enveloped us back  In its arms it made us mermaids,  Ethereal and magical.  I want to delve deep into the waters That we call home,  Swim up to Emmett Till as he was Before the lynching, a gorgeous black Boy with a tail that matched the color  Of the autumn leaves.  He’d welcome me home with the sun in his smile,  Ask if the world is better now.  How do I tell a boy who died in 1955  The trees still seep our blood,  That we’re in a losing race with bullets?  We’d swim together, water particles  Brushing our skin like we’re kindred spirits,  He’d show me the family I’ve never known. I’d play messenger for the unarmed black boys  Who want to tell their families they’re okay,  Now, there’s no to worry for our safety because  Who would shoot a mermaid? I can’t look at the water  Without seeing the ships, they’re calling me home, waiting to welcome me with open arms.  What can I say, I’ve always wanted to be a mermaid.