Raquel "Ra" Brown and her daughter perform at an open mic. Image courtesy of Raquel Brown.
For stories of Black history and excellence, check out our Black History Month series. Celebrate with us by sharing your favorite articles on social media and uplifting the stories, life, and work of Black people.
Black History Month is not just about touting the same handful of names that we memorize as children: Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth. This year, we want to connect readers with everyday women who go largely unappreciated for what they bring to us. Throughout the month of February, we will highlight some fascinating Black women around the United States and introduce you to their work. These women are activists, writers, coaches, performers, and community leaders.
We will always honor the generations of powerful Black women who came before us since they have paved the way for our activism, writing, and art. Our goal now is to highlight the incredible powerhouses who are doing work in the present – and introduce you to their work. So, to kick off our initiative strong, we’re starting the week by learning four lessons from the prolific poet Raquel “Ra” Brown.
Ra Brown has been writing and performing poetry since teenagehood, and uses it to “express ideas and experiences in love, life situations, lust, tragedy, and traveling.” It’s clear from her writing that Brown has a lot of wisdom to go around – and we want to share some of that with you all. Below are four of the most moving lessons I draw from her work.
Lesson one: speak up for what you want and deserve – and demand it yourself.
In 2014, Brown’s unconstructed memoir “The Alpha Woman’s Bible” was published by KaNikki Jakarta, a black woman owner of Great Publishing Company. In it, Brown talks about the audacity of a Black woman to be sexual without shame or expectations. She once told a man, “I know that we’re going to have sex so we can take that off the table right now. No need to send in our ‘representatives’ to do the song and dance in an attempt to get the other in bed. No pretention.”
To say she intimidates men is an understatement, but the important lesson here is this: nobody but you can be your spokesperson. We have to stop putting on a show based on what we think others desire, and instead, demand the salary, treatment, and love that we want. Our pleasure matters, too.
Lesson two: you are capable of healing
Raquel’s mother has been a huge influence in her life. Like most—if not all—women of color she had to work twice as hard as many of her white peers. And even then, there was no guarantee she would get fairly compensated. At a very young age, she was hip to this reality and her mother was well aware of how the world might treat a girl as brilliant as her daughter. As the product of “a gutter dude and a Catholic school girl”, Raquel started her love of poetry shortly after reading a book her mother gave her. Louise Hay’s “You Can Heal Your Life” changed the trajectory of her life. The part that most resonated with a young Brown was the connection between behaviors and mental ailments. One lesson she has learned over the years between the heartache of losing her niece and the anger from betrayals is that the words handed to her by her mother are still true. If we are willing to put in the work, we can be healed.
Lesson three: make sure they never forget you
I can honestly say I’ve never been attracted to anyone more than I was attracted to this woman when I met her. I am a huge James Baldwin fan and by default, a fan of anyone who is a genuine fan of Baldwin. This is not even a sexual attraction. It’s a spiritual situation— that feeling of abrupt and satisfying enlightenment is the best way I know how to describe Ms. Raquel “Ra” Brown.
In her own words, Brown is “a thought form of what is…a hungry man’s delicious…an internal war’s bloodshed. She was vegan before it started trending and it shows in her glow. Regardless of whether the stage is a little hole in the wall or the Kennedy Center, her goal is to make sure people remember her presence. And that lesson can be applied to every woman reading this.
Lesson four: Appreci-LOVE yourself
From working with incarcerated Black youth at Words, Beats, Life to running a vegetarian grocery cooperative in Maryland to touring around the country, Brown is a powerhouse. It is that same energy that propelled her to work with dozens of at-risk youth in the DC area. Raquel not only mentored Black girls who experienced trauma, but she also created a safe space for them to connect with artists during her Wednesday night open mic at Sweet & Natural—a Black woman-owned vegan restaurant. Every week women who had been abused would gather under the umbrella of artistry and be given a microphone along with the opportunity to be vulnerable in a world where Black women were otherwise not allowed to be. One year during one of her shows, a regular at the weekly open mic was harassed by her ex and she jumped in between them to stop him. After some of the men in the crowd stepped up to help the young woman, Raquel even found her a place to stay for the night.
Without these experiences, Raquel knows that she would have never performed at places like The Smithsonian, The Kennedy Center, The Lisner Auditorium, or the Black Hollywood Film Festival. She encourages more women to follow the example of great leaders like Shirley Chisolm, Mary McCleod Bethune, Queen Nzinga, and Dorothy Height. And if all else fails, Brown says: “you better give them a good show!”
[Image description: A collage of four images, an east asian woman speaking into a bullhorn, a football player kneeling, a row of flags and a room with women and men in a Pakistani living room overlaid with the words 'News and Social Justice 2018 #bestofthetempest18]
What a year 2018 was. This time last year, we were still reeling from all that had happened to us, wondering how anything could ever get better. But we entered 2018 with renewed vigor. Members of our very own Tempest team marched on behalf of women in the US and in Rome, and we campaigned for LGBTQ rights when we launched our Spirit Day campaign. We fought for immigrant rights while throwing the spotlight on environmental injustice, too. Moreover, we started holding each other (and our politicians) accountable to the greater good. And through it all, we remained steadfast in our vision for justice and equality for all.
The News and Social Justice sections also made a concerted effort to cover more international topics this year. To do this, we took a hard look at politics around the world; we analyzed the way WOC and minorities were disproportionately affected by the agendas of the wealthy and elite. We told the raw stories of immigrantsand those living in the most dangerous parts of the world to be a woman. The conversations we had about mental health, sexual assault, and police brutality were also difficult, but necessary. Nonetheless, women and the LGBTQ community saw some serious gains in politics and around the world, giving us hope for a brighter 2019.
I’m so proud of the work that our incredible team of staff, fellows and contributing writers have put out this year. The News and Social Justice verticals have certainly benefitted from their passion. Not to mention, the wonderful Dominique Stewart joined as Assistant Social Justice Editor this year and breathed fresh, new life to the vertical.
Dominique and I will continue to work hard to push the sections forward in the coming year, and we’re so excited to see what it holds. Here’s to more glass-ceiling smashing, determination, incredible activism in 2019.
Now, without further ado, here are the top picks of 2018 from the News and Social Justice sections at The Tempest.
Amidst an era of political uncertainty, Laura Muth gives us an in-depth look at what it looks like to live in the US right now. “To live in Portland right now is to engage in an endurance test of your capacity for cognitive dissonance,” writes Muth. Beautifully written, Muth portrays the strength and resistance of the queer and black communities in a way that ignites hope for the future of activism.
Shahrazad Encinias goes straight into the heart of an Arizona detention facility to interview undocumented women who’ve been there for almost two years. They’re being held without a clear picture of when they’ll be released: “I’m locked up. It’s the same as being in Guatemala,” says Rosa*. These women tell Encinias of the fear, discrimination, and violence they face on a daily basis. Harrowing and powerful, this piece by Encinias is a must-read.
Lahore-based Momina Naveed ventures into Pakistan’s red-light district to find out what daily life is like. She interviews Munni*, a single mother doing sex work as a form of survival. Munni works so that her daughter doesn’t have to: “I will go to great lengths to make sure my daughter doesn’t have to suffer at the hands of the same fate as mine,” she says. Naveed’s reporting is somber, earnest, and fresh. This piece might make you cry, but you will come away with a new perspective on sex work that we’re sure you’ve never read before.
In this piece, Katie Kaestner-Frenchman confronts the European Union in its entirety. With all its imperfections, flaws, and snafus, the Union is a “project in progress,” but an essential part of maintaining order in the world. Kaestner-Frenchman speaks frankly about what we lose when we begin to lose sight of what the European Union is supposed to stand for.
Of course, not everything we faced this year was rosy. Biased legislative procedures around the world make it incredibly difficult for women to report and obtain justice for sexual assault. The stigma attached to women who’ve experienced sexual assault and harassment compounds the issue. What happens when judges don’t believe survivors? Meg Leach gives us a powerful call to action: Vote. Them. Out.
Assistant Editor for Social Justice Dominique Stewart provides readers with a frank perspective on anthem-kneeling. A practice used by some athletes as a peaceful expression of political frustration, anthem-kneeling has nonetheless been sharply criticized by President Trump and American voters alike. Stewart sees this criticism as fundamentally misplaced – find out why in this honest and raw piece.
What does mental health in South Asian communities look like? It’s often difficult to say since there’s so much stigma surrounding its discussion. Mariyam Raza Haider combines her personal experiences with an expert interview to sketch out how Indian communities can foster more empathy towards one another. “A public health crisis like this demands a pivotal shift in the way our parents think and understand mental health,” writes Haider. While this piece focuses on the Indian community, this piece is nonetheless relatable to all.
Grace Wong explores the practice of “artivism” (art activism) in this fresh and inspiring piece. To do this, Wong interviews artivists Ameya Okamoto and Renee Lopez — women of color working in photography and digital media — to better understand how art communicates and sheds light on their life experiences. Through their art, Okamoto, and Lopez fight for inclusion, ally with Black Lives Matter, and push for greater intersectionality. Featuring original work graciously provided by the artists, this article underscores the power of art as a social justice medium.
When we said that we entered 2018 with renewed vigor earlier, we meant it. Women of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and millennials made unprecedented gains in US politics this year, and we believe the government (and lives) will be better for it. These strides have made Sara Marshall feel empowered and ready to hit the ground running in 2019. The only question is – will you join us?
Happy New Year! Our appetite for all things news and social justice at The Tempest will never slow down. Here’s to another year of determination, vigor, and activism!
*names were changed to protect the identity of individuals interviewed
It’s a statement of fact that nearly 50% of the world’s population is currently menstruating, has menstruated, or will menstruate at some point in their lives. Despite the fact that periods are a part of our human biology, others frequently try to invalidate our experiences by resorting to old wives’ tales or patriarchal notions.
This is for those who are tired of the mansplainers, the naive apologists, and the “just take a Tylenol and move on-ers”. So here are some of the ridiculous things people have ever said about us, our bodies, and our periods – and how we’re striking back.
1. “Suck it up, this is just part of being a woman.”
This is the classic “I don’t have a single empathetic bone in my body, and you should just deal with it” statement. Not to mention the fact that it leaves out a major group of human beings: people who menstruate, period.
While menstruation isn’t a one-size-fits all process, some of the most widely-experienced physical symptoms include bloating, cramps, head and back aches, acne, and swollen breasts. Aside from that, there are emotional effects as well, and this has to do with the levels of estrogen in our bodies. Right before a period begins, estrogen levels spike drastically (during ovulation) and then drop again once the egg is released. This disruption can trigger a change in mood – which can often lead to depression and anxiety.
Periods are part of being a menstruating person, but no one experiences their period the same way. There are physical and emotional changes that come with the process, and guess what – they’re real. Yes, we’re amazing, and we can handle all of these things while carrying on about our days normally.
It’s a common misconception held by men (and some women, I kid you not) that a person is incapable of making important decisions or holding level conversations while menstruating. While it’s true that some may experience anxiety or depression before or during their periods, it’s erroneous to equate that with competence.
Look around you – some of the most influential badasses on this earth are people that have periods, and – surprise! – they probably menstruate once a month too! The difficult aspects of periods are a measure of strength, because not only can we deal with all of that – we can also get on with running the world.
3. “Your period isn’t something to be proud of. Stop talking so much about it!”
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Okay, first off, when was the last time I heard a guy refrain from an inappropriate dick joke? If I have the patience to bear through countless “that’s what she said” jokes anytime there’s something even slightly close to a sex reference, I’m pretty sure you can get through what she actually says.
Also, for the record, I’m going to be PROUD AND LOUD AND PRANCE AND DO WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT.
Even if that means wearing ridiculous white jeans during my period like they show in most sanitary product ads. Except for this time, when I’m going to have a killer secret weapon in the equation (and no, it’s not my blood before you start getting all grossed out).
4. “Yikes, girl, you be lookin’ hella bloated in those jeans. Maybe you should give them up this week.”
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Bloating is just the name of the game when it comes to our week with Aunt Flo, and choosing what to wear is a calculated risk, no matter what it is. Jeans, dresses, sweats – all are susceptible to The Stain.
One thing that I’ve found particularly effective to minimize bloating is to take a Midol and some hot green tea with honey. It’s soothing, forces you to slow down for at least five minutes in the day, and tastes good (duh). Bloating is real – and it’s one heck of a nuisance – but no one should be shaming you for it, ever.
5. “I don’t get it. Only women can get periods. Why are you making this a social justice thing?”
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WHY. WHY. WHY.
Why do we take a leap back after every leap forward? Just because you grew up with preconceived notions about what gender, sex, and biology are “supposed” to be, doesn’t mean you have to impose that on everyone else. Especially not on people who already have to deal with that once-a-month friend. It’s complex enough for non-binary and trans individuals to navigate the world without a helping of your bullshit, thanks.
Besides, gender has always been an incredibly complex and fluid spectrum. If you’re here to give me a lecture rife with stereotypes, toxic masculinity, and a dose of fragility, I don’t have time for it. You’re really not helping anyone except for yourself.
6. “Ugh, you got it on the bed…that’s disgusting.”
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We run the risk of ruining our underwear, pajama bottoms, pants, sheets, towels, and seat cushions – but you know what? That doesn’t stop the flow.
Did you know that the average person who menstruates will pass between 10-35 ml (that’s anywhere between two teaspoons to two to three tablespoons) of blood per period, and experience that about 450 times in a lifetime?
That’s a lot of blood.
And a lot of periods.
Sorry, I’m not capable of controlling my natural blood-flow while I’m unconscious and sleeping. There’s a lot coming out of me – and a lot more to come – so I’ll just try to sleep soundly and keep an extra bottle of Tide handy in the meantime.
7. “Reusable pads aren’t legit, there’s no way they can hold all that blood.”
Although, I’ll be honest: my flow is way too crazy for thongs, but you do you.
In addition to being chemical-free, period panties and reusable pads are carefully engineered to be as absorbent as possible. Plus, many of these options, including Performa Lunapads, are machine washable (!!!) and can be soaked before you toss them in the machine, in case you’re really worried about them getting clean.
P.S. They come in super cute prints too, including this adorable llama one that I’m quite partial to.
Okay, I know how I smell like. That extra fragrance in the room didn’t just come out of nowhere, it’s damn expensive perfume, thanks to the paranoia I already have. It’s a paranoia that people like you spent years telling me that I have, and I’m not too interested in hearing it again from ya.
But that smell in the room of your overuse of Axe cologne is totally something we need to discuss. Because we’re not in elementary school anymore, and someone seems to have missed the memo.
How about you take care of your personal hygiene before you talk about mine? And yes, I’m talking about you, mister. The guys out of the basketball or gym, smelling like everything under the sun, telling me I smell bad?
Miss me with that bullshit.
9. “Here, take this pad, but smuggle it on your way out. Don’t let anybody know you’re on your period!”
What am I, some expensive art thief out of the Ocean’s Eleven series? There’s no need for me to carry out some sort of secret-agent sequence to get to the bathroom and change my pad.
To be honest, though, changing your pad several times a day can be a pain. Sometimes the daily hustle keeps us from getting a much-needed 5-minute refresher. That’s why reusable pads are so useful. You snap it in once – bam – and forget it’s even there all day. Comfort? Check. Safe from “embarrassment?” Check. We both win here.
I don’t have to smuggle my pad, and I have one that lasts me the entire day.
10. “You can hold out until the end of the hour to get up and use the restroom.”
Sometimes we can’t go to the bathroom because our schedules are that demanding (see: point 5). But does anyone remember the awful classroom rules that had you waiting until the end of the hour to relieve yourself?
I’m going to venture where most won’t: the land of Period Poop. It’s true: being on your period will inevitably mean you will poop more. This due to a fun little chemical called prostaglandin – it tells your uterus when to contract and release its lining. If there’s enough prostaglandin in your body, your bowels may pick up on the signals too, and interpret that as a call to release “The Poop”.
Are you really trying to make me fight that? Nah. I’m gonna use the bathroom now.
11. “We could never have a female president! Think about what she’d do when she’s on her period!”
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Oh dear. If she can negotiate a ceasefire, negotiate a top sanction, help families that need healthcare, and stand up for LGBTQ+ rights, and be an all-around badass, is there anything she can’t do? Let’s be clear here for a second. You’ve got a male president who seems like he’s getting worse cramps than I ever had.
AND HE’S NOT EVEN ON HIS PERIOD.
Next time you want to smear dirt on a politician, let’s move gender out of the equation. It’s 2017. We should be over the female anatomy already, geez.
12. “Tampons and period cups stretch you out too much down there, don’t use ’em.”
Vaginas are extremely elastic – capable of expanding 200% when sexually aroused, and even more so when giving birth. This means that it returns to its usual “tightness” no matter what goes in or out of it. Tampons and menstrual cups are designed to fit comfortably in women’s bodies: menstrual cups are made of medically-approved silicone or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) and fold during insertion, so they’ll expand as necessary once they’re under your cervix. Tampons are made of soft cotton, shaped into a cylinder – this is designed for easy insertion into (and up) the vaginal canal.
13. “You should never use reusable pads while on your period, that’s gross.”
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Some people aren’t comfortable using tampons or menstrual cups and prefer alternatives that don’t require inserting anything. Other options include pads – but they can be costly or a hassle to maintain. Another alternative is reusable pads. Not only are they super comfortable and convenient, they’re cost-effective and environmentally friendly, to boot.
Lunapads are reusable cotton pads that can be washed and used over and over again. I personally used the Performa Mini Pad for my most recent period, and it was so damn comfortable, I forgot I was even wearing it. The easy snap-on feature prevented it from slipping and sliding, and it wasn’t gross at all.
Because I forgot the right to my gender was in your hands, and you get to decide what I am and what I’m not. No, I totally don’t smell ignorance or misogyny or transphobia for that matter. Nope, nada, nothing to see here. Just your average idiotic individual who’s trying to explain to me the science of my own body, and who probably will call women going through menopause that they’re not women either.
Yup, every elder woman is secretly pretending to be a woman. She’s not REALLY a woman because I totally forgot that any proof of her bodily functions was lost when her period stopped.
Go read that first sentence, and compare? *Grins with smugness*
15. “Don’t let anyone know you’re on your period this week.”
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People like to pretend this isn’t something that roughly 50% of the world’s population has, is, or will go through at some point in their life. Why spare them the truth? I’m menstruating.
Postpartum depression is a topic people are slowly getting more comfortable talking about. We’ve seen celebrities such as Brooke Shields and Chrissy Teigen come out and share their experiences with postpartum depression. This week we discuss postpartum depression, the pressures that women face before, during and after pregnancy, as well as self-care, all in one episode.
This week Kat and Esther are missing in action but we have our community editor, Saffiya Mohamed, and Editorial Fellow, Ariana Munsamy, joining Laila and special guest, Doula Hira Khan, founder of BirthKeeper, providing prenatal services and education to the global Muslim community.
If you’re loving our episodes and would like to get updates from us, follow us on Twitter @theexposeshow. Sign up for our newsletter at thetempest.co/the-wave. Support our show at patreon.com/thetempest.
From beauty products like “Fair & Lovely” that promote fairer complexions to magazines who photoshop models’ skin to look lighter, colorism is a global problem that people from all societies face. Fair skin is promoted as more beautiful and equated with success, wealth, and power. On the flip side, darker skin is viewed as undesirable. This has serious consequences on people of color and their sense of self-worth.
Mashal and Nadia fill in for Esther to help Laila tackle these issues and share their own experiences as women of color. Some of the topics they discuss include skin lightening products, the media’s role in colorism, light skin privilege, and how prejudices against those with dark skin are easily internalized.
MUSIC LIST:
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat – Lucky
The Weepies – Be My Thrill
This week, two Tempest fellows, Katie Kaestner and Kayria Taghdi, join Laila to discuss the problematic Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why. The show is a teen soap opera chronicling the suicide of high school student Hannah Baker and the thirteen tapes she left behind.
Does the show start any useful conversations about mental health, depression or sexual assault? Or does it hide behind the shock value of the graphic depictions of suicide and rape? Is there anything redeeming about a show that glorifies the death of a teenage girl? How do teen-run fan accounts on Instagram give us an insight in to what “kids these days” are responding?
It’s official: there’s a full-fledged attack on our bodies, courtesy of complicit (Ivanka, pay note!) government officials. The proposed healthcare systems are personal – extremely so. We go past the tip of the Trumpcare iceberg into some deep water, so get your diving gear and get ready.
Welcome to the yearly Twitter tradition of being totally blessed on Eid.
#BlackOutEid brought another year of slayage, featuring Black Muslims completely killing the social game. There’s really nothing like this – and we’re here to celebrate everything that is this hashtag.
In a feature with The Tempest last year, #BlackOutEid creator @krennylavitz shared that she created the tag because she “wanted to create a space specifically for Black Muslims online. Using Twitter as her platform, she hoped to leverage the playing field a bit, as Black Muslim beauty isn’t typically showcased due to anti-blackness. Why wait around to be represented, right?”
We are all about that life. Take a look at some of our favorite #BlackOutEid tweets:
Do you look like a visible minority? Have you ever had to answer petty questions about your culture? your appearance? Well, Mona Haydar managed to answer all these petty questions with this one badass song with an equally badass video, which has now hit over a million views! Kat and Laila uncover everything from misplaced misogyny to what sparked Mona to step into the music industry and create this dope song.
It’s May 1st, which most people know as International Workers’ Day or Labour Day. So we get our fingers right into what needs to be discussed: is protesting a privilege? Are we going to remember the workers who fought and died protesting for 8-hour work days, the end of child labor, and worker rights? And what about the undocumented people within the US – are we going to recognize them?
This week, we’re missing Kat and Laila but Esther pulled through as we spoke to Alejandra Primavera Cruz-Blanco. Alejandra works with Cosecha, which is a nonviolent movement working to win permanent protection, dignity and respect for the 11 million undocumented people in this country. You can learn how to support them by joining their movement here and following them @CosechaMovement.
Disclaimer: If you think we’re here to talk about how awful sex workers are, this episode isn’t for you. If you’re under 18 and your parents are listening, this isn’t for you either. We’ll leave this description vague, because the episode more than speaks for itself – and you have to listen to it to get it.
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