I write a lot of different stuff for a lot of different websites, and here’s where I try to keep track of articles and stuff that I write elsewhere!!
Kehlani’s Pregnancy Brought Up Some Real Biphobia and Misunderstanding Around Queerness
Published: Into Magazine – October 18, 2018
Kehlani announced that she was pregnant last week and the world is a brighter place because of it. 2019 is really about to see the most magical, astrologically perfect, musically gifted, woke lil’ brown baby ever. And between the words of praise and celebration, some of the world went a little crazy because isn’t Kehlani supposed to be queer?
Fantastic Beasts and What Could Have Been
Published: Black Girl Nerds – November 30, 2016
On Thanksgiving day, I went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I haven’t been thrilled about seeing it for a multitude of different reasons. From setting a movie in 1920s New York with an alarming lack of people of color to the fact that they picked the most boring topic in the Harry Potter universe to make five movies about, I just wasn’t excited to see it. But I did anyway because nothing else was open and I didn’t want to laze around the house all day (just some of the day.)
The Quiet Poeticism of ‘Hey Arnold’
Published: creators.co – October 26, 2016
I’ve always thought there was something quietly poetic about Hey Arnold!. 90’s cartoons are always held in high regard nowadays, mostly because of how many BuzzFeed articles about nostalgia we’re given all the time, but there’s something different about Hey Arnold! to me. From the absurd characters to the occasional dark story lines, the cartoon was calmly wistful in its own right.
The Definitive Ranking of Parents on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Published: creators.co – October 6, 2016
If Grey’s Anatomy has taught me one thing (other than happiness is fleeting, everybody dies tragically, and that surgeons are constantly having sex in the hospital they work in), it’s that parents are terrible. Be it Olivia Pope’s sociopathic father or Annalise Keating’s uncle-murdering mother, parents in ShondaLand are on a completely different level of crazy, and no other show shows that better than Grey’s.
A Love Letter to Dr. Callie Torres
Published: Bitch Flicks – September 27, 2016
It’s no secret that bisexual characters are lacking on television. Even as queerness becomes more prevalent on-screen, the roles are sparse and often times showcase harmful generalizations and stereotypes. Shonda Rhimes’ television empire Shondaland is a powerful part of the changing landscape of entertainment. Her portrayal of people of color, women, and queer characters is nuanced and intricate. She doesn’t discriminate when it comes to drama and thrills; everyone is subject to the emotional roller coaster that is TGIT, no matter who they are.
Black Sisterhood in TV Sitcoms
Published: Bitch Flicks – August 29, 2016
Black sisterhood is an important staple in the lives of many Black women. From birthdays to breakups, it’s vital to have your girls with you in times of happiness and struggle. This relatable dynamic has been prevalent in pop culture for decades. From Living Single to Girlfriends, that deep, unshakable connection and trust between besties has been a common component in countless sitcoms. While many Black sitcoms revolve around a family, it’s rare that specific interactions between sisters are depicted. While “sisterhood” here often refers to the strong bond between friends, biological sisterhood is sometimes forgotten. Sisters with strong relationships on television display some of the deepest and truest kinds of family love out there.
The Unapologetic Blackness of ‘The Wiz’
Published: creators.co – August 22, 2016
I’ve loved The Wiz since I was a little kid. Although it scared the bejeezus out of me (please don’t ever ever talk to me about Evillene’s fingers curling back onto themselves), it was one of my favorites. I loved listening to Diana Ross belt “Home,” I loved seeing Michael Jackson Ease On Down the Road, and I felt like Lena Horne was singing “Believe in Yourself” directly to me with those sparkly floating babies in the background at the end of the film. I can’t even tell you how hype I would get when “He’s the Wiz” came on. And I wanted so badly to be a munchkin and play in that graffitied park with the twisted monkey bars and huge swings dropping down from impossibly high ceilings. I wanted to to be seen green, like those fabulous people sashaying around Emerald City. This creative world full of color and music was meant for me.
Women in Science in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Published: Bitch Flicks – July 25, 2016
When you think of superheroes, you probably don’t immediately think of science. Superheroes are all about incredible power and defeating the bad guys; test tubes and the periodic table aren’t nearly as cool as a good city-destroying battle. Yet, nearly all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe superheroes are vastly influenced by science, some even donning the proverbial white lab coat themselves.
Interracial Relationships on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Published: Bitch Flicks – February 24, 2014
It’s been more than a decade and Grey’s Anatomy still thrills us with harrowing medical mysteries, last minute life-saving surgeries and, of course, surgeons hooking up in on-call rooms and falling in love from across the OR table. The TV series has always been as much about its surgeons’ personal lives as it has been about the medicine. With an ever-growing cast of colorful characters, it’s no wonder why the show still pulls great ratings week after week. The show has been praised numerous times for its diversity, heralding Shonda Rhimes for her use of colorblind casting, not assigning a specific race to the characters she writes, which created a racially diverse fictional world. While colorblind casting promotes a greater variety of races on screen and normalizes diversity, erasing a character’s color can lead to other issues; issues made all the more noticeable in the heart of Grey’s Anatomy’s most prominent narrative: relationships.
The Case of Cochlear Implants in the Internet Age
Published: Multimedia Newsroom – April 24, 2014
You’ve probably seen a thumbnail of a crying woman hooked up to her new cochlear implant on your Facebook newsfeed, or watched the YouTube video of a baby boy’s pacifier fall out of his mouth when he hears his mother’s voice for the first time. These videos rapidly garner millions of views for their quick, tender moments and give warm and fuzzy feelings to the viewer. While the recent videos of a deaf person hearing for the first time have touched the hearts of millions, many people in the Deaf community don’t share the same heartfelt feelings.
Life Is Ruff: A Look Into Austin Pets Alive!
Published: Multimedia Newsroom – April 10, 2014
Austin is on the heels (or paws, if you will), of celebrating its three-year anniversary as a No-Kill city. Being a No-Kill city means that regardless of shelter overcrowding, having lots of mouths to feed and wounds to heal, Austin hasn’t given up on us.
Growing Representation of the Deaf Community in the Media
Published: Multimedia Newsroom – March 25, 2014
Hollywood’s celebrities, films and television shows have power that is unimaginable. They can alter our perceptions on political and social issues and help in the representation of different groups of people. From same-sex relationships to human rights, we have seen an array of topics represented in the media. True, the media has shed light on these issues, but what about deaf representation in the media?
Austin Nonprofit Educates Community on Health Benefits of an Insect Diet
Published: Multimedia Newsroom – March 6, 2014
Before you grab the fly swatter and aimlessly chase your insect target, think about the little critter that you’re about to swat. A bug’s life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Bugs typically meet their fate at the sole of your wandering shoes or by being showered with insecticides. Creepy crawlies are feared by many, but are mostly considered to be gross. We eat gummy worms, so why not consider eating the real thing?