I was called ignorant for the first time in my life this past Sunday. I was at a family and friends gathering when someone said they are not a negro. Someone else said they were a Moor, and another said they were African. That’s when I said, “I am Black, but not African.” What followedContinue reading “Black, not African”
Author Archives: Adia Kamaria
Not Carol & The Nuclear Family
I recently watched a documentary on Hulu called Not Carol. It was about a woman named Carol Coronado. Carol stabbed her three children to death in 2014 and was subsequently sentenced to three life sentences in prison for the crimes. I was horrified when I read the description of the documentary. Kids, even your own,Continue reading “Not Carol & The Nuclear Family”
A Black Mom’s Perspective of Nice White Parents
“Our schools are not an equalizing force, because White parents take them over and hoard resources,” this quote from the introduction of episode four sums up Nice White Parents, a podcast from Serial Productions, a New York Times company. The quote is about Horace Mann’s idea that public school would be the great equalizer of AmericanContinue reading “A Black Mom’s Perspective of Nice White Parents”
Billboard, Verzuz, and How Dancehall Influenced Hip Hop
As the pandemic drags on keeping concert venues and other entertainment shut down, thousands of people log in to watch artists “battle” each other week after week on Verzuz. On Tuesday, August 11th I was doing my morning check of social media handles when I came across a post from Sharon Burke, President of SolidContinue reading “Billboard, Verzuz, and How Dancehall Influenced Hip Hop”
Yellow Tulips & Red Buses
This is what I would do if I wasn’t afraid, a memoir… London. What if she pursued her master’s at an English university? Or left Florida to its sun and swamps, and feasted her eyes instead on historic towers set against overcast skies? What if crossing the ocean was the path to a brighter future?Continue reading “Yellow Tulips & Red Buses”
One of the Lucky Ones
I was sitting at the gate at the airport on my way to Boston for a job interview. I was looking out the window at Ft. Lauderdale’s bright sky and thinking about how much I really didn’t want to trade in warm days, bright skies and beaches for slush, rust and an annoying accent –Continue reading “One of the Lucky Ones”
The Simple Life
I’ve been asked twice in the past month what impact I want to leave on the world. My answer was that I don’t. I want to impact myself and then die. The first person who asked me this looked shocked at my response. The second person said I sound defeated, deflated and like I justContinue reading “The Simple Life”
Still Holding You Down?
I spent two days in Liverpool, England last week. While I was there two of my friends and I did The Liverpool Slavery History Trail. As I expected, the tour was interesting and I learned a lot of new things. Towards the end of the trail, the guide took us to the front of aContinue reading “Still Holding You Down?”
Chemistry & Commitment
I spent the weekend with a girlfriend. As always, girl talk involved men and relationships. At one point in the conversation I said something about someone who I regard as my heart, even though what we have right now is at best a complicated situation. She asked me how I could feel something so strongly forContinue reading “Chemistry & Commitment”
Disconnect
I was recently driving with a friend while she told me about a terrible thing that had happened to her the day before. “…and then Justin texted me and I felt so much better, but isn’t that bad?” she asked. “What? Why?” I asked her. “Because, I should be able to make myself feel better,Continue reading “Disconnect”