I do have a nonfiction piece that’s close to being finished, but I’d like to ask some friends to take a look at it. In the meanwhile, here’s what I recommend from what I’ve read, watched, and listened to this month!

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Books

Kiese Laymon’s How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America

Essay collection. JFC this man’s writing.

Ina Park’s Strange Bedfellows

Funny, easy to read, and informative. Also I never thought I’d say this about a book about STIs, but it has an absolutely adorable cover too.

Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky #1)

I hate the summary on the book, so I present you chai’s words that convinced me to pick it up: “goth god-vessel/sea captain slash bisexy mermaid”. Also includes a high priestess mired in politics, and a warrior come home upon his mother’s death.

I somehow thought this was sci fic, as in space ships and outer space? The intimacy at the end in the bathouse!! MY HEART. I need book 2 and I need my OTP to happen.

C. Spike Trotman, Emilee Denich, and Kelly Fitzpatrick’s Yes, Roya (2021 color edition)

A kinky, OT3 romance about artists. Note the main character is 17.

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Music

Karol G’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

Especially Créeme/A Ella and Contigo Voy a Muerte. I haven’t listened to Karol G before, but unsurprisingly I love this version with a live backing band.

Seinabo Sey’s Blue and Rom Com

Jasmine Sullivan’s set on ESSENCE Fest

JFC, the things she can do with her voice. The set also spans all her albums. 🙂

Erez Zobary’s Breathe You Out

She has a forthcoming album and I am excite.

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Misc.

Music Video: Joy Crookes’ Feet Don’t Fail Me Now

Podcast: Food 4 Thot

I love this show, and their latest season just started! They also have a Substack newsletter that you can subscribe to with $ if you want to support the show.

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Articles

Embodied Conflict by The Embodiment Institute

“Three questions to ask yourself when you are in conflict: Do I know how to experience satisfaction? Do I believe in the possibility of repair? Am I willing to change?”

Malaika Jabali’s Twitter thread on Critical Race Theory

The most succinct, easily understood breakdown of the term I’ve found so far.

Loretta Ross’ keynote for the PLU Wang Symposium 2020

(A video, not an article.) I think the title, “Calling In the Call Out Culture” is incendiary, but a lot of food for thought here. No transcript available.

A Roadmap Away From ‘Cancel Culture’ and Towards Transformative Justice, adrienne maree brown interviewed by Nastia Voynovskaya

“I think it’s really important to also have a sense of, what is the application of call-outs? What is the application of canceling people? What is it we’re actually trying to achieve? And I think what we’re trying to achieve is always stopping harm from happening. And if you follow that trail, does this actually stop the harm from happening?”

“I also think that transformative justice is something that happens at an intimate level. It happens in a community that knows each other.”