Spectra Speaks
As a follow up to my last piece about how media can help facilitate “coming out” or facilitating important conversations about sexuality over the holidays, I’ve compiled a list 10 of my picks for books, film, and music created by queer people of color that would make excellent gifts! If you’re an ally who’s interested in learning more about the diverse landscape of LGBT (people of color), this list is a great starting point for you too. Enjoy.
I recently visited the Ibhabhathane Community Centre, the only pre-school available in Rieebeck East, a small farm village with a population of about 700 people. Needless to say, providing good quality education (much less early childhood development) is a challenge. But a small group of dedicated women are making a difference.
I’ve been working on a collection of erotica, poetry, and other free-form expressions for about a year now and just recently printed them into booklet form for editing. Flipping through the pages for the first time felt like the cold sensation of fingers slowly running down a soft layer of brown skin, which of course inspired me to make a short teaser trailer in video form. You should probably watch this while you’re alone.
A parting poem from my beautiful partner. She read this at my goodbye party last weekend, and wanted me to share it with all of you. As she has dedicated this to me, I dedicate this to everyone who loves an activist, who gives them sustenance when they are running on empty, the push they need to keep going, even when they are scared, and of course, so much unconditional love.
My best friend from college; she’s the woman who taught me how to laugh, how to REALLY laugh… and then, when I came out, we stopped laughing together. We lost each other’s smiles for nearly four years as we both searched for self in different directions; I as an out queer activist, she as a deeply spiritual Christian.
I found this poemthing I wrote about Mother’s Day in my journal from about 2 or 3 years ago. I hadn’t officially had “the talk” with my mother, and though she already knew I was dating women, she seemed determined to avoid talking about it. So, instead, we talked about food, the weather, and Oprah. It was hilarious, and painful. Forward this to someone you know who’s dealing with something similar. And if that someone is you, you are not alone :)
I’m sharing the remarks I gave at the MA Women United Against the War on Women rally in Boston (in poem-ish form). I found myself thinking about the concept of “unity,” and the fact that so many women of color, immigrants, transgender women etc are often left out of mainstream women’s movements. There isn’t just a war on women, but a war amongst women slowing our progress. Until we end that, we are not united.
As National Poetry Month draws to a close, I thought it only appropriate to post this response to the plagiarist who thought they could get away with stealing my words.
About Me
Meet Spectra: Queer Nigerian Afrofeminist Writer and Media Activist. Social Entrepreneur Nurturing Principled Diaspora and Women's Philanthropy in Media and Tech. Self-Care and Self-Love Evangelist. Idealist Warrior Woman. Big Dreamer. Big Thinker. Big Doer, Too.
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