Growing up, being Black usually came first when addressing my identity. It didn’t matter that I was half white. It didn’t matter that I am rather racially ambiguous in appearance. Most of the time I was around children who were white and that made me “the Black kid”, be it when I was with my extended family or at school. It wasn’t until I was with other Black children that my Blackness came into question, but, even then, the series of reminders I received the rest of the time left me without question of who I was. However, life became much more complicated when I figured out that I was also “the queer kid”. That was a secret that was kept from both groups of children, even my closest friends. It was then that I truly became an outsider. Eventually, I became more open about my gender identity and sexuality with people who I knew would be accepting of it. However, with the heightened organizing for racial justice in the U.S., many seemed indifferent to the brutality Black people were experiencing and this hurt as I felt like it invalidated another part of me entirely. Perhaps it didn’t affect them directly, but shouldn’t two marginalized groups band together in the face of injustice? Oftentimes, prominent rights organizations choose one thing to focus on when organizing, discarding what is in the fringes. This has been seen historically in the different fights for the rights of people of color, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community. The Civil Rights Movement had a specific model the wanted to be followed for those who made the news. The teenage mother, Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her seat to a white person did not fit the bill as well as the respectable Rosa Parks, who would do the same nine months after Colvin did. Feminist Betty Friedan referred to lesbians as the “lavender menace” and did not believe they fit into the movement she was in. The biggest contemporary example that I can think of were how many people who were predominantly gay, white, and cisgender denounced the protesting against police brutality in the month of June, the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. While this may seem like blatant hypocrisy, much of these attitudes stem from the same racism, sexism, and transphobia that was present in the LGBTQIA+ at the time of the Stonewall Riots. How the event itself is memorialized often whitewashes and sanitizes who was involved and what took place. Many do not know the names of Marsha P. Johnson and Stormé DeLarverie, both of whom were people of color and transgender and gender nonconforming, respectively. People were assaulted by the police just for being who they were, be it because of their race, sexuality, or gender identity, and the oppressed said that enough was enough. Pride as we know it today is not to commemorate a party, but a protest. Too many from our own community displayed this year that this fact has been forgotten. Being a part of one marginalized group doesn’t prevent one from upholding and imposing systems of oppression onto others. Not in organizing, not in academia, and not in one’s personal relationships. This is very difficult for many to grasp, and it can have devastating effects. It was an issue I didn’t know existed until I realized that I had experienced it almost every day and had become desensitized to. Intersectionality is key to ensuring the everyone has the rights and dignity they deserve. None of this can be achieved when one group is holding another down or pushing them aside. By leaving others on the fringes, we further reinforce that it is acceptable to oppress any group simply for existing. Ultimately, I do have hope for the future. As I look at how much diversity is displayed in the streets during protests and read numerous resources educating everyone on how to build a stronger and more intersectional community, I can’t deny that progress is being made. With that said, we must continue to focus on doing better in the years to come. - Bek Resources and Further Reading Calbo-Jackson, Antonio. "An open letter to the lgbtq+ community about #blacklivesmatter and pride." GLAAD, GLAAD, 3 June 2020, www.glaad.org/amp/open-letter-lgbtq-people-pride- and-black-lives-matter. Gilmore, Stephanie, and Elizabeth Kaminski. “A Part and Apart: Lesbian and Straight Feminist Activists Negotiate Identity in a Second-Wave Organization.” Journal of the History of Sexuality, vol. 16, no. 1, 2007, pp. 95–113. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/30114203. Hendrickson, Paul. “The Ladies Before Rosa: Let Us Now Praise Unfamous Women.” Rhetoric and Public Affairs, vol. 8, no. 2, 2005, pp. 287–298. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41939983. McCusker, Carolyn. "Black trans perspectives and the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots." PBS, PBS, 13 June 2020, www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/daily-videos/black-trans-perspectives- and-the- anniversary-of-the-stonewall-riots/.
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Karissa Lopez
When I attended my first virtual yoga session last month, I couldn’t sit still. I kept checking my phone and wandering around my apartment before I ultimately decided to give up and leave the class early. A few days prior to signing up for the class, my sister had suggested I use “mindfulness” as a way to cope with my COVID induced fear and anxiety, along with my school induced stress. Naturally, I equated mindfulness with yoga, which in theory excited me, but in practice was almost painful for my rapid-fire brain. My issue wasn’t with yoga or mindfulness itself; it was with the silence and stillness that was required of me. I’d been stuck in the idea that these things were counterproductive, which was the opposite of what I needed to be as a college student. However, studies have shown that students who practice mindfulness often have lower levels of stress and are better at managing it, as well as experiencing increased levels of curiosity and patience; two things that seem critical given our new virtual reality. If you’re like me and can stand the silence or don’t have the focus for meditation or yoga, how can you practice mindfulness and reap these benefits? Well, in order to practice mindfulness, you have to first define it. Everyone’s definition of mindfulness, much like their practice, is different; however, the most common conception of mindfulness is taking the time to direct your attention purposely and intentionally to the present moment, without judgement or critique. Many people practice mindfulness through meditation, yoga, or by simply going on a walk. That’s the beauty of practicing mindfulness: it caters to your life and your individual needs. Nicoletta Longo, a mindfulness consultant, gives three helpful steps when starting to practice mindfulness: 1. Set a realistic amount of time to practice mindfulness every day While I’m a firm believer that everyone should practice mindfulness, I understand that finding the time to do so is easier said than done. Whether it’s taking five minutes after you wake up, before you fall asleep, or to use as an excuse to step away from the computer screen, finding the time to practice a moment of mindfulness daily can help to form a habit. It doesn’t have to be a substantial amount of time, just enough to ground and refresh yourself. 2. Commit to the practice When I first started intentionally practicing mindfulness, it was easy to get lost in a daydream or use this time to continue to plan out my day or week. It’s normal to have your mind wander, but it’s important that you recognize this and let it go. Create a space for your body and your brain to rest—they will thank you! 3. Let go of expectations Lastly, let go of expectations. Just like in many other aspects of life, setting goals for your mindfulness journey is important; however, it’s also important to be gentle with yourself. There are no requirements for where you should be within your practice. The action of mindfulness is accomplishment enough. Although practicing mindfulness daily can sometimes feel like a chore (there have definitely been days that I’ve skipped), it’s still a form of self-care that can allow you to find peace and focus in whatever emotions you’re feeling in the present moment. Here are some of my favorite mindfulness resources and meditations that helped me get started:
I hope these resources and tips can help you begin your journey of mindfulness, and that practicing it can bring you as much peace and stillness as it brought to me during these times of anxiety and uncertainty. You likely don’t need to hear it from me, but 2020 has been a trying year to be LGBTQIA+. With the violent killings of many Black trans women in this year alone and the possibility of losing some of the rights we do have with the recent supreme court nomination, consuming content of the same nature can be jarring. Below, I’ve provided a few suggestions to watch or read when you need a bit of a break. We too deserve media that is both representative and enjoyable. With that said, these stories are not without some difficult moments and I don’t want to give anything away, but I can at least guarantee that the endings will leave you in high spirits!
Saving Face (2004) My partner and I first saw this film in our Intercultural Communications course a couple of years ago, and we loved it. It was used to illustrate the concept in some Asian cultures of “face” and I did find it to be a very helpful learning experience in that regard. Though the film is 16 years old, I felt like it has aged very well and the romance between the protagonist, Wil, and her first girlfriend, Vivian, is very refreshing to watch. This film is available on Amazon to rent or buy, but if I can find anywhere it is free for students (it used to be on Kanopy), I will definitely update this! Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation by Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman (2010) This compilation of works from LGBTQIA+ contributors doesn’t pull any punches when confronting both cis- and heteronormative expectations that are upheld by much of society. However, there are also many stories of euphoria and joy shared in it. One of my favorite pieces included is a comic called “transcension” by Katie Diamond and Johnny Blazes. The introduction, intermission, and epilogue by Bornstein and Bergman also made me belly laugh from time to time. I would say that this work has also aged well a decade later and that some improvements can be observed in the society we live in now. The book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Google Books, but I would recommend checking the LGBTQ+ section of your local library as well. (I purchased my copy at a thrift shop.) Derry Girls (2018- present) I thought for awhile before including this one on this list, but I think it very much applies. Derry Girls is a sitcom that centers around a group of teenagers in Northern Ireland during the 1990s. LGBTQIA+ themes are not really all that present until the end of the first season, but carries throughout the second and presumably through the third when it comes out. Despite the tumultuous times the friends are living through, the show as a whole is very lighthearted and hilarious and often very relevant to today. The series is available to stream on Netflix. I may make recommendation posts a monthly occurrence, especially ones of positive content to help through this long period of change and multiple hardships. I hope that this will be helpful and that all reading can find something to enjoy during this time. - Bek By Kimberly Le
I will admit first hand that I am an owner of a pair of blue light glasses. I found my eyes constantly strained after hours on end behind a computer working on essays or other minute tasks. My partner suggested I go to Zenni, an online glasses warehouse with a variety of designs, prescriptions, and more importantly, its addition of blue light blocking glasses (BBG). At first I was hesitant. My sister, who has prescribed glasses, made it clear that people with perfect vision (like me) buying glasses as a "fashion trend" were harmful to those who actually need the spectacles to see. I held off buying a pair for a while, afraid that I was going to give into the harmful implications of buying glasses to help with eye strain under the guise of buying it for looks. However, time had passed, and soon it got to the point where I couldn't even look at a screen without feeling the pressures around my temple area tighten. And so, I gave into my partner's advice and bought myself a pair of non-prescribed blue light glasses. I avoided wearing them around prescribed glasses users or individuals that would call out the fact that the glasses were "fake". But as universities all over the world began its transition to Zoom, the need to combat hours of screen time justified the buying of blue light glasses, especially for those with perfect vision. However, my concerns didn't line up with that of society's hesitance toward blue light glasses. It's the fact that many people claim they help reduce migraines or headaches, even though the root problem isn't blue light from screens, it's digital eye strain (Builder, 2019). While blue light is emitted from digital devices, the major source that radiates blue light is the sun (Builder, 2019). Many scientists and organizations, namely the American Academy of Ophthalmology, state that BBG aren't generally helpful in terms of digital device usage, and that the only "real" solution is by taking breaks in between (Ellis, 2019). The only instance that BBG may come in handy is at night, when blue light from devices disrupt our body's sleep pattern -- many of you have heard that it is recommended at least four hours of not having a screen to ensure a proper night's sleep (Builder, 2019; Ellis, 2019). However, in this day and age, perhaps that isn't as realistic as scientists hope it would be. I, myself, am prone to using my phone before I go to bed and resort to taking melatonin gummies to help me sleep faster and better (therefore being on my phone can't be that bad, right?) So, BBG may come in handy to reduce some of the blue light, but not by a whole lot (turns out our body associates blue light with daytime which is why using our phones at night is not ideal) (Ellis, 2019). Regardless of what science says, people, namely young adults, have reported benefits from using BBG and while that's great, scientists' main concern is false advertising and marketing (Ellis, 2019). Oftentimes eyewear companies give the illusion that certain products of theirs ensure protection from natural light sources. One company went as far as claiming that blue light causes retinal damage and was charged 40,000 pounds for misleading customers (Ellis, 2019). Despite that, many BBG wearers praise their blue light glasses and continue to advertise their support for them. In the words of Ellis (2019), if it helps, who cares? I personally felt that they had some effect as a person who spends time on some device for six or more hours nearly every day. But after reading these articles, I began to worry if my investment was nothing more than a placebo. Which goes to show how little research I had done and I'm sure many others have as well. Will this change the way I take care of my constant eye strain and headaches? Ideally, yes. Realistically, probably not. But will it force me to be more aware of the media I consume online, as well as products that may or may not actually benefit me, and encourage me to actually take care of myself? Yes, very much so. If you're a person who uses BBG in any way, shape, or form (whether you're prescribed or not), or someone who was considering or generally curious about the hype, be aware of your investments and the risks of placebos and reality. Talk with a health professional or do your own research before adding that really cute pair of tortoise-shell glasses into your cart. And most importantly, if you've read this far into my post, it's probably time for a break from the screen. :) References Builder, M. (2019, Feb 13). Do Blue-Light-Blocking Glasses Actually Do Anything? The Strategist. https://nymag.com/strategist/article/blue-light-blocking-glasses-work.html Ellis, R. (2019, Dec 16). Blue Light Glasses - Helpful or Just Hype? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20191216/do-blue-light-glasses-work |
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January 2024
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