For me, 2015 has been defined by me slowly but surely getting back to my writing roots, and I had the fortunate experience of having a few pieces published this year, which you can read here. In 2016, I plan to redesign this site and have it integrate all of my passions, social justice, food, books, and music.
I know that reading a wide variety of books, articles, etc. makes you a better writer, and this year there were so many moving words written by the most amazing minds and it really inspired me to continually improve my craft. Here are just a few books and articles that educated me, influenced me to think in new and different ways, inspired me, and made me think: I want to make people feel how these words just made me feel.
Books
Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements, edited by Walidah Imarisha and adrienne maree brown
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed by Charles E. Cobb
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharris
At the Dark End of the Street Black Women, Rape & Resistance: a New History of the Civil Rights from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power by Danielle McGuire
Ella Baker & The Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision by Barbara Ransby
ShadowShaper by Daniel Jose Older
Articles
Why so many minority millennials can’t get ahead by Mel Jones at The Atlantic
Ashley C. Ford interview by Tammi Heneveld at The Great Discontent
Soul murder and the American jail by Melanie D. Newport
Racial Profiling on the Main Line by Steve Volk at Philadelphia Magazine
As Chicago Police Kill Youth, Vast Misconduct Allegations Purged by Sarah Macaraeg at Truthout
Da Art of Storytelling’ (A Prequel) by Kiese Laymon at Oxford American
