humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
How to be an Ally
On May 25th, 2020, a white police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd for nearly 9 minutes. On May 26th, the video taken by a 17 year-old bystander, Darnella Frazier, came up on my Facebook feed. I watched, at first confused as to what I was seeing. It was almost as if what I was seeing was so horrific that my brain was trying to protect me. When the truth, and horror finally landed, a deep well of sadness for this stranger hit me. But under that, was rage. A white hot rage that someone would so cavalierly take another person’s life. I didn’t care about his race. I didn’t care that he was someone I’d never met and had he lived to 100 years and died in his bed, I still wouldn’t have been likely to meet. I cared about his life because he’s a person. He had a family who still needed him. And this chicken shit cop killed him like it was nothing.
By R. E. Dacted6 years ago in Humans
Why Being An Adult Sucks Sometimes
Don't get me wrong, being one of these fully-grown-adults can be fairly amazing at times. You get to vote, you get to travel without your parents breathing down your neck, you get to do pretty much anything you want at any time, and you get to drink alcohol (no underage drinking here, please). But there are times when I'll openly admit that I would rather jump into the ol' time machine and go back a decade or so to...simpler times.
By Laura Watt6 years ago in Humans
The misunderstanding of white privilege
When we each consider our lives as a whole, our existence, what we have achieved, where we have failed, it can be measured, or rather scaled, against a spectrum of our happiness. At one end we can put our happiest moment, our greatest triumph, and at the other end, we can place our darkest moment - the lowest to which we have ever been. To quote the most unlikely of sources, Richard Nixon analogised this idea in another way when leaving the Whitehouse when he said, "only when you have been in the deepest valley can you understand the magnificence of standing on the highest mountain."
By Leo Dis Vinci6 years ago in Humans
It is still possible to connect with others, even with a MASK!
My jobs in the film/tv industry were effectively shut down on March 13th. On March 12th, I was working as one of ten dancers on an episode for season 2 “The Other Two”. The choreographer was trying to get more energy from us on a cold, damp day, and shouted, “dance like this is your last job!”. On March 13th, I showed up at my ongoing gig at Steiner Studios. We got into uniform, hair, makeup, and then about an hour later we were told, “we were wrapped”. Email after email came in stating that the jobs that I was scheduled for were also canceling until further notice. On March 16th, my last and other income source, teaching at the gym, called a company phone meeting to let us know that we have been “fired” so that we can collect unemployment.
By Kama Linden6 years ago in Humans
Hugs
If you are anything like me, hugs for you are essential; you need to be touched. Unfortunately for me I am not in a relationship that allows for even just one hug on a daily basis. I am at the start of a new relationship, but with social-distancing in place...well, I will remain emotionally starved I'm afraid for a bit longer.
By Sassy Lady Ava G6 years ago in Humans
This is my voice, let me hear yours
We stand for what we believe in. "People are people. " We have our own thoughts, beliefs, notions based on our unique experiences in life. Encountered experiences with our own family, friends, relatives, acquaintances and even strangers. It is somehow strange that regardless of the countless number of people in the world, it is hard for us to have the same exact circumstances. This is the reason why it is hard to empathize to one another. As they say, if you do not put on your feet on someone else’s shoes you will never feel how he/ she feels.
By Mary Grace Estrocio6 years ago in Humans
The ups and downs of a walk into town on a miserable winter’s day
Her spirits were subdued as she set off to walk into town beneath low oppressive clouds. She side-stepped the puddles under the railway bridge, grimacing at the noise and exhaust fumes of the passing cars.
By Kim Brooke6 years ago in Humans
Uncovering The Subtle Racist
With the upswing in racial profiling, protests, and pandering it's important to see where racism is even when it's subtle. Teaching your friends where they might have been wrong and hurt you is just as important as standing on the front lines of the protests. There is nothing that hurts more than finding out that a friend has been hiding these prejudices behind your back whether you are an ally or a minority.
By Respectfully Sandra6 years ago in Humans
