As the strapless lilac dress found its awkward place on my body, the delicate layer of my personal confidence dropped mercilessly to the floor.. When my father said I looked “pretty,” I immediately went on a dramatic tirade (more dramatic than usual) to assert that this wasn’t who I was. “You only compliment me when I’m wearing clothes I don’t want to wear,” I complained, “I don’t feel pretty. I feel stupid.”
Wait a minute, not all lesbians in movies are white, rich or middle-class with no bills to pay? You mean “life” doesn’t get put on pause so that all gay people can experience the thrill of coming out at summer camp? And, there are other LGBT issues worth talking about besides marriage? Gasp! And Hallelujah for Spike Lee protégé Dee Rees’ Pariah– a film women of color (and other marginalized groups) can finally relate to.
About Me

Meet Spectra: Nigerian Writer & Media Activist, Queer Afrofeminist Social Commentator, Human Rights Advocate, Social Entrepreneur, Africa's Cheetah Generation, Idealist Warrior Woman.Testimonials
By sharing your story, you allow people like me to relate, to experience, to learn and to share with others as well. thank you, thank you, thank you.
— JT... a flexible and effective communicator with youth across various social, class and cultural strata.
— Ayari, Girl Scouts Program CoordinatorSpectra is a talented speaker and facilitator and is especially adept at working with groups of students in ways that both challenge and support individual viewpoints.
I can always count on Spectra to challenge an audience, to nudge us in new directions and connect us with new ideas.
— Andrew Elder, The History ProjectWe love it when Spectra Speaks!
— The Theater Offensive... a genius when it comes to creating space that feels safe and centering for a variety of marginalized groups (and subgroups) but still warmly invites allies at all levels of previous engagement.
— Jaclyn Friedman, Author of Yes Means YesSpectra, you are a role model; people who have no one at home find you on the internet and draw hope from your work and your words.
— KE, Facebook FanThank you so much for sharing your story and for being an inspiration to so many people.
— WayoftheLiz... [an] articulate weaving of personal experience and analysis.
— Becky... a force to be reckoned with--in a very positive way. Spectra has the "gift" of envisioning the greatness we can achieve and uniting the folks who will make that happen. I adore her.
— Tim, Fenway HealthSpectra has allowed myself, and many I know, access safer spaces to have much needed, challenging and powerful conversations that would otherwise not occur in our communities.
— Shakira, The Network/La RedUpcoming Events
- Featured Speaker at Brown University
Date Thu, 23 February 2012 Time 07:00 PM
Location Brown University - Workshop Facilitator at Northeastern University RA Training
Date Tue, 28 February 2012 Time 07:00 PM
Location Northeastern University | Boston MA
- Featured Speaker at Brown University

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