Why White Guilt Is The Least Important Consideration In My Work
One of the most common refrains I hear from white readers of my work is, “I really liked this piece because it didn’t make me feel bad about being white.”...
One of the most common refrains I hear from white readers of my work is, “I really liked this piece because it didn’t make me feel bad about being white.”...
Culture / Gender & Sexuality / Motivational / Race / Reflections
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published February 14, 2017
Growing up, my mother never had a shortage of Ebony and Essence magazines splayed across our coffee table, a fact that has shaped me into adulthood. When I was bored, I...
Why don’t you hand in papers in Ebonics since that is how you talk?” I remember someone asking me this in my early days of grad school. I then explained...
Gender & Sexuality / Motivational / Race
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published April 20, 2016 · Last modified October 5, 2020
Almost every morning for the past two years, I have found myself sitting in my car on this predominantly White campus playing Tasha Cobbs or Kendrick Lamar or BJ the...
Culture / Race / Reflections
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published March 7, 2016 · Last modified December 16, 2016
The other day, as I was driving and watching his little puzzled face in my rear-view mirror, I told my son how Lauryn Hill’s experience having her son Zion was so similar...
Recently, the Movement for Black Lives convened in Cleveland, Ohio. Activists, organizers, writers, community leaders and concerned citizens alike gathered for three days to engage one another on the important issues facing...
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published August 11, 2015 · Last modified December 17, 2016
There have been few constants in my life. But, as I was reflecting today, I remembered a daily, weekly, monthly occurrence throughout my childhood that often left me questioning my...
Gender & Sexuality / Politics / Race
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published July 8, 2015 · Last modified December 17, 2016
When I was seventeen, I was groomed and preyed upon by a high school basketball coach. He told me to stop wearing panties if I wanted to get a ‘real...
Culture / Entertainment / Motivational / Race
by Daren W. Jackson · Published July 5, 2015 · Last modified December 16, 2016
Musiq Soulchild was one of the biggest faces in the neo-soul movement of the early-2000s. His soaring falsetto and straight to the heart compositions on tracks like “Love” and “Don’t...
Since the murderous acts of terror (which left nine Black people dead) at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina two weeks ago, six Black churches in the South have...
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published June 27, 2015 · Last modified December 17, 2016
This morning, Bree Newsome climbed a 30-foot flagpole in Columbia, South Carolina. I repeat. Bree Newsome climbed a 30-foot flagpole. I repeat. Bree Newsome. Again. Bree. Newsome. Some of y’all...
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published November 23, 2014 · Last modified December 16, 2016
“Can I have that toy shooter Mommy?” “No.” “Why?” “Because you’re Black.” While many little boys run through streets, backyards, and playgrounds with toy guns, my sons don’t. Seeing White boys...
When I was 15 years old, I had what any level-headed person would call a stalker. Let’s just call him “Mike”. He was at least ten years older than me...
Culture / Entertainment / Gender & Sexuality / Race
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published September 20, 2014 · Last modified December 17, 2016
I guess Shonda Rhimes didn’t get the memo. She was the latest victim in bigoted white America’s endeavor to undermine successful black people. And she certainly won’t be the last.
“Is it because I’m black?” This is the question we often ask ourselves when the taxi won’t stop or the other pedestrian on the sidewalk won’t smile back or when...
Gender & Sexuality / Lifestyle / Race
by Jenn M. Jackson · Published August 14, 2014 · Last modified December 17, 2016
Being a six-foot-four inch tall black woman often precludes me from being mistaken for other people. Growing up, I was almost never told “Hey, you look just like my friend,”...