Hey! I am ChantГ© Thurmond, and I’m the new curator of the sex in colors blog, as well as Scarleteen’s Growth and development Advisor. I want to share a brief backstory about my journey to Scarleteen before I share a quote that’s been in my heart lately, and a shortlist of a few exceptional PoC who consistently add value to the culture and to their respective communities
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, I’d the truly amazing fortune of conference (and befriending) the infamous Heather Corinna, Scarleteen’s founder, at a annual teenwise seminar into the Twin Cities. We became pals that are instant the two of us bonded over our shared passion and dedication to involved in partnership with teenagers. We shared a belief that youth and appearing grownups have actually the power to tap into their genius that is collective they want) in addition they, perhaps not adults, will be the gurus of their own bodies, minds and hearts. And in the end we discovered that despite our superficial distinctions (like our age, competition, ethnicity or zip codes), Heather and I also share similar stories of origin — we have been both the firstborn son or daughter to young parents. Through the entire years, we’ve additionally come to realize that while our tales seem to parallel have run at numerous times, there are points of divergence (like our gender identities, our sexualities, our values or used philosophies). In any event, our particular paths have unfolded to complex intersectional identities that we inherited from our diverse, immigrant families and environments.
I think it’s super crucial to recognize that people’re all residing intersectionally. Whether we identify it or not, we each bring some kind of bias, privilege or cultural lens to the conversations and relationships we have — be it IRL or practically. Therefore, while sex in Color is curated I won’t ever claim to speak on behalf of ALL PoC by me– a proud person of color PoC. My experience is just one of the most significant.
Our records never unfold in isolation. We can’t certainly inform that which we give consideration to to be our very own histories without once you understand the other stories. And sometimes we discover that those other tales are now our stories that are own. – Angela Davis
More and more, I’m reminded so how intersectional all of us are, even among biological siblings who’ve resided with the exact same moms and dads within the same household. As an example, what is unpleasant in my experience being a Ebony Latinx, cisgender millennial girl may possibly not be therefore for my more youthful cousin, whom identifies the actual way that is same. I don’t find it productive to debate how or why whenever we do have differences of opinions. I’ve come to feel it is much more helpful if we simply acknowledge and accept that although we’re the same, we are exceptionally various and it’s really completely fine.
Anyway, here is the shit we really need to talk about lately, I’ve been post-traumatically brought about by violent images and language hijacking my media that are social, group chats, radio and television. Of late, therefore unfortunately, this has result from so several things I’ve seen on #BlackTwitter. The rear and forth banter inside our tribe was going from zero to 100, genuine quick. It has been everything from R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, relentless anti-abortion trolls, stonings in Brunei as well as the pervasive misogyny from Silicon Valley to DC.
The one which actually broke my spirit is the tragic murder of Nipsey Hussle. Each and every time I do believe concerning the love and loss their partner, Lauren London, is living through, we encounter a profound heaviness that is spiritual. Maybe it’s because we sincerely appreciated their display that is positive of love and quality. Maybe it is because Nip strongly resembles my partner, or because I understand deeply down inside this hit way t close to house. Gun violence is really a pervasive general public health issue within our community that cannot be ignored, one of the most significant regarding the long variety of traumas that people as folks of color experience.
Myself feeling sad, lost or disconnected from my culture, I do a little life California dating sites hack that I want to share whenever I find. I have created several curated listings of people who share my values or who’re including something positive to the culture. Whenever Twitter and Instagram feel t much, we straight away visit my short list of inclusionary voices.
Listed here are six gems I do want to shout out to be strong, vibrant sounds whom consistently show-up and incorporate value towards the collective community. Many thanks in advance for being great examples of how exactly to efficiently make use of your influence and place of capacity to clap straight back and reclaim our power as PoC. You are seen by me and I also appreciate you.