theory & essay
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Love & Hip Hop Hollywood Season 2: Episode 10 Recap
Last week I took a bit of a flyer on the recap by “talking” to Shanda about why she wanted so badly to get back on that pole. Luckily, this week, we got to SEE her on that pole – as God intended, apparently – though we only got the PG version considering, ya know,…
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What's More Of A Sandwich: A Taco Or A Hot Dog?
Debates on the sandwich merits of hot dogs and tacos, separately, can be found everywhere from The Atlantic and NFL locker rooms to The Guardian and actual dates actual people actually go on where they spend actual hours crafting complex analogies to explain why hot dogs aren’t sandwiches, but gyros might be. Now, I’m not here to make…
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Things That Happen When You're The First Born Daughter Of East African Parents In America
Being a firstborn daughter in a relatively sizable extended family of East Africans* certainly has its benefits. I’ve been taught to experience rice as a food group, I have family scattered across the world (which can really cut down on hotel costs whenever I get a case of wanderlust), and generally speaking, the comfort of…
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12 Years a Situationship
We’ve all been in those relationships that we thought were going somewhere promising when in reality it was leading us down to the makings of an Adele album. I have been so fascinated with the thought of forever and that white picket fence that I have ended up becoming so delusional that I ignored what…
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Dear Damon, Here's Some Advice On Your Impending Parenthood
Dear Damon, If my math is correct, you’re set to become a father next month. Congratulations. There are few times in the life of a person more exciting (and nerve-wracking) than the birth of your first child! As your friend and brother, I couldn’t be happier for you and the Gay Reindeer on this life…
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This Generation’s R&B Music is Asswater. Stop Paying For It.
A couple weeks ago, while driving to Ann Arbor for the homecoming of my alma mater University of Michigan, Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You” popped up on the shuffle. He didn’t write the song, but he made the definitive version; much like with Isaac Hayes’ “By The Time I Get to Phoenix” or Luther…
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On Being Mary Jane And Making The Leap Towards Greatness
I remember when Being Mary Jane first hit the BET lineup. I didn’t love the show, but I also didn’t dislike it. I largely watched the show because of Black Twitter and the tremendous shade tossed the way of Pauletta Patterson aka Mary Jane Paul. Mary Jane was one of those women who never saw a bad…
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On The Importance Of Getting More Black Kids "In The Right Place At The Right Time"
On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending the annual gala for the Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF), an inner-city organization that I have been involved with since middle school. It was a fantastic event all around. I even had the honor of having an extended conversation with Neil Degrasse Tyson, who serves on the…
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Dear Netflix, You Are A Liar.
Dear Netflix, I’m an ardent supporter and user of your services. I was hittin’ a Netflix and chill before it was even a thing. Of course, I was doing that by myself usually where I’d fire up Netflix and chill on my couch and watch whatever movie I or the mysterious people who have stolen…