d. tafakari

The Sweetest Thing You Missed about Beyonce’s Grammy Performance

The most touching thing about Jay and Bey at the Grammys: an impromptu prose poem Wasn’t her leaning into him while he rapped. Wasn’t the grin on his face watching her strut. Wasn’t the grip of his hands on her fatty. Wasn’t the hug and kiss they shared. Wasn’t even the surfborting they pantomimed (BeyContinue reading “The Sweetest Thing You Missed about Beyonce’s Grammy Performance”

Justin Bieber, Trayvon Martin, and the Racial Implications of Being a “Just a Kid”

Early yesterday morning, pop star Justin Bieber was arrested for driving under the influence. After swerving recklessly around the world for the past few months, the 19-year-old finally did what the public expected him to do: crash. When child stars “go bad,” a certain class of apologist emerges, explaining away the stars’ actions as theContinue reading “Justin Bieber, Trayvon Martin, and the Racial Implications of Being a “Just a Kid””

Holler if You Hear Me: Facing the Stigma of My Invisible Disability

I have never shared this online before this week–mostly because I never saw a need to–but I live with permanent hearing loss. Doctors diagnosed me with hearing loss when I was about 9 years old. I may have said “huh?” too many times for my mother’s liking, and she took me to the doctor toContinue reading “Holler if You Hear Me: Facing the Stigma of My Invisible Disability”

Juicy J and the Problematic Trope of Twerking College Girls

If Three 6 Mafia rapper Juicy J wanted to see some girls twerk for free, all he had to do was visit World Star Hip Hop (WSHH). He had to have known this, since he partnered with the website to publicize a $50,000 scholarship for young Black women. But this week, news surfaced that Juicy JContinue reading “Juicy J and the Problematic Trope of Twerking College Girls”

Unless You Gon’ Do It: Is Fishing for Gifts Online a Joke?

Despite any hypothetical intention we may have, my friends, one thing is clear: asking for things we want online creates an “Unless You Gon’ Do It” type of situation. Social media allows us to advertise our desires behind the safety of a computer screen. Personally, it is comforting to share bits and pieces of myselfContinue reading “Unless You Gon’ Do It: Is Fishing for Gifts Online a Joke?”