I’ve changed how I think about the police. When I was younger, I used to think that the police were there to protect us from crimes, and to keep the peace. Now, my thoughts are more complicated than that. I still think the police are there to protect me from crimes. But that’s because I’m…
Month: April 2019
Might Makes White
In Octavia Butler’s “Kindred,” the protagonist Dana is fretting about how the other slaves see her as being “white” because of her relationship with the masters. Carrie, a mute slave, rubs Dana’s face to show that the blackness doesn’t rub off. Dana is black no matter what. I have always identified as a white person….
Sexism Isn’t Just About Sex
Former Vice President Joe Biden has been accused of inappropriately touching women throughout his career. What makes these touches different than those of other scandals, such as Al Franken’s lascivious “breast-grabbing” photo or the multiple allegations of sexual assault against Bill Clinton, is that Biden’s alleged touches are not apparently overtly sexual in nature. This…
The Fine Art of Resurfacing
I was raised to talk first, think second. I was raised to speak from a place of authority, whether or not I know what I’m talking about. My father was a minister. He was the voice of his community, a booming presence, a font of knowledge. He was my primary model for manhood, and he…