Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Journal.
25 Things I've Learned as a Background Extra
I work as an extra (or some like to say, "background actress") in Los Angeles. Today marks the 25th production I've done since moving here at the beginning of the year. (I got some experience in this field when I lived in the Bay Area!)
By Allie Stone8 years ago in Journal
Follow Your Dreams?
To be young and unaware... When I was 16-years-old, I was sitting at dinner with my family when my baby sister asked "Angie, what are you gonna be when you grow up?" Without thinking or heisitaing in the least, I claimed loud and proud "I am gonna be a Broadway dancer!" What came next would be the drum beat that would not stop in my head for the rest of my life.
By Angela McMahon8 years ago in Journal
Why Your Black Business "Won't Survive"
Context As I write this piece, I reflect on what brought me to the south. I lived a privileged life in California, situated in the mecca of diversity, the San Francisco Bay Area. And we can say I still live that privileged life, seeing as I can go back anytime that I want to. I was well aware of the evils of poverty and de facto segregation that lends itself to the narrative “separate but never equal.” I knew the history of internment camps in the peninsula and race riots and the establishment of the Black Panthers in the east bay. Growing up we learned about the racist Jim Crow like laws forced upon the Chinese, and we learned about the Chicano movements of Southern California. I was surrounded by whites, Asians, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, few blacks, and an increasing population of Middle Easterners. And I got to be at the center of the Pride movement every single year. And I grew up with the notion that the south was evil, racist, and not somewhere I wanted to go.
By C Alexandra8 years ago in Journal
Maximizing Your Potential
I can vividly recall this past Thanksgiving involving a fork full of cheesy macaroni, and an unsettling scene from the film: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In the beginning, we meet the young chocolate lover Charlie, and his father; a factory worker who caps toothpaste tubes. One day the company invests in a more efficient machine to cap the tubes, eliminating his job.
By Shaquanda Briggs8 years ago in Journal
Coolest Lap Desks To Help You Work Anywhere
Laptops come with a great ease of use, and with a good laptop you can work virtually anywhere—in bed, on the couch, out on the porch, etc. However, hunching over a table or placing the computer on your lap can be uncomfortable, and if you want to upgrade and get the most out of every work situation, you should look into the best lap desks.
By Joseph Farley8 years ago in Journal
8 Things to Remember When You Lose Your Job
Life fluctuates. Sometimes we are way up, and sometimes down. As someone who works on a contracted basis, losing my job happens consistently throughout my year. I have come up with a process to get through the periods where I might not have work for a while.
By Jenae Perry8 years ago in Journal
What Your Local Barista Thinks of You
I have been working for a well-known coffee shop for about three years now. I know this business far too well, crafted way too many beverages, and trained too many hopeless high school grads. I dream of the day when I get to throw in the green apron and walk out of this hellhole. Now, I know I sound like a bitter employee, but trust me—I used to love my job. Sadly, this place reminds me that humans are indeed pieces of shit.
By Cynthia Rico8 years ago in Journal
Indecisive
Life is made up of decisions; some we make while others are made for us. What do you want to eat? Where do you want to live? House or apartment? Cereal or Eggs? Save your paycheck or spend it? Some decisions are extremely easy to make while others can take years to decide on. What do you want to do with your life? That’s the million dollar question.
By Ashlyn Harper8 years ago in Journal
