New Year is a time of reflection for everyone including M-Lifestyle. In 2018, M-Lifestyle published many non-feature based articles and we are going to take a moment to reflect on the most-read ones.

Beautiful Model Posing

Does being a light-skinned Latina mean I am not living the POC experience?

This article that was written by Adriana Falero and it addresses her concerns as a light-skinned Latina not living the POC experience. The writer uses personal anecdotes to describe the struggle she faces as a white-passing Hispanic, in her post she mentions her experience filling out applications, where she marks ‘white’ on a form but ‘Hispanic/Latino’ when it comes to race. She also addresses the maternal side of her families who are Spaniards and having an Italian last name and how that has an impact on how she looks and how people identify her at first glance. In the article, she speaks on the privilege of her skin color by saying “At first glance, I might have some sort advantage when others look at me. I can walk in the streets wearing a hoodie with less fear than an African-American or brown Latino would.” However, she has dealt with her own personal struggles after moving to America from Cuba. Falero struggled to get accustomed to the American culture she had to deal with learning a new language and being made fun of for pronouncing words incorrectly. Now all she has as a signifier of her POC experience is that her last name ends in a vowel. Falero wants people to understand that there are people of all different skin tones living among us due to the indigenous people, European immigrants, and descendants of Africans intermingling. That being said, instead of trying to guess someone’s identity based on his or her skin color, name, or accent try getting to know him or her first.

“The Modern Day Sunken Place…Is It Too Late To Get Out?

The author of this article Shaniqua Yates reflects on the once movie theater hit “Get Out” and its resemblance to the reality of marginalized people of color (POC). His girlfriend’s mother puts the main character Chris into the “sunken place” where he can see all of the things happening to him but he can’t do a thing about it, sounds familiar? Yates then zooms out and gives references to prominent names in showbiz and a former politician who seems to have fallen into the “sunken place.” She then references the movie director Jordan Peele who confirms that we’re all in the “sunken place.” He tweeted “The Sunken Place means we’re marginalized. No matter how hard we scream, the system silences us.” Although, viewers got a good laugh at the film as they cheered when Chris escaped from the home, thanks to his TSA friend, Yates reinforced the point that same reality has not been guaranteed to the young and old POCs who’ve lost their (and continue to) lose their lives in today’s society and the work that we have to dismantle the system of racism.

What We Wish We Learned and Unlearned as Little Black Girls

In this article, the author Chantelle Polite wrote about the lessons we wish we learned or had to unlearn as little black girls. The topics mentioned were depression, being “too grown”, marriage, and inappropriate outfits. These were ingrained in the minds of little black girls at a time they barely knew what those things were. These ideas have made black girls growing up ashamed of their bodies, lacking confidence, dismissing their feelings, and dependent on a spouse. Chantelle mentioned the importance of having a community for black girls to run to especially when we have a society that doesn’t celebrate us the way we should be celebrated.

Millennials in Vogue: A Modern Day Black Renaissance

Chantelle Polite wrote another piece, which shows the artistic contributions during the Harlem Renaissance, and the correlation between the music and the societal issues happening during that period. Polite referenced cultural pioneers like Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Josephine Baker, and Alain Locke who used their gifts in poetry, art, and fashion to help bring about racial equality. She then fast forwarded into present-day where the demand for racial equality is still needed but it is being led by Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, Common, Wyclef Jean, and Colin Kaepernick to name a few. Now, in the age of social media, art and social activism have come together to inform the masses in a much more creative way. Polite also referenced the hit movie ‘Black Panther’ which showcased the country of Wakanda and all its resources untapped by anyone in the world. This piece drew from the past in order to connect to the present using the arts to tell the stories of the struggles black people still face today in regards to racial equality.

Pretty Violent: A Glance at Girls & Gangs

This article written by Jennifer Maldonado speaks on the increasing numbers of female gang members stepping away from the traditional roles within a gang and becoming the leader. She also cited that women are not only doing this in the U.S. but in Central and South America, and Cape Town, South Africa. Maldonado also mentions the factors that lead to the female joining a gang as well as the risk factors that are included as well. The author ended her article by giving the reader some tips on early intervention and how that is key in making sure women do not end up in a gang.

By: By Kaycia Sailsman

Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments, opinions on this website are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of M-Lifestyle and their affiliates. M-Lifestyle does not claim ownership of any images used, unless otherwise specified.