Recently, Beyoncé, a multi-platinum winning artist with billions of fans worldwide released a visual album titled Black is King. While the intentions were to bring pride to Blackness and Black people around the world, the film, which millions of people will now digest, is saturated with stereotypes about the African monolith that continues to bring…
College itself is an amazing experience, full of novelty and adventure. Yet, there’s a certain excitement about renting your first apartment — a combination of both joy and uncertainty. Along with it, you’re taking your first steps toward adulthood by learning how to manage your finances, take care of a home, and address issues like…
George Floyd’s tragic death has changed the tides for the Black Lives Matter movement; Black men and the BLM movement have finally gotten recognition and support. But the same cannot be said about Black women. Despite the hindrances Black people have overcome, Black women do not receive respect for the work they have done in…
DOWN Magazine was created in the Spring of 2015 to be a space for writers of color to generate and disseminate work of all genres, from long-form nonfiction narrative to fiction, poetry, art, investigative journalism, and more. It was, and continues to be, a much needed space online and on campus for writers of color…
On February 20th, 2020, I had the opportunity to attend the symposium and discussion: Redefining Blackness in America. Created by the wonderful Amara Mgbeike, this event featured speakers such as Rebecca Amonor, Cera Smith, and Dr. Carolyn Roberts. The event began with Dr. Roberts, a professor at Yale, recounting her experiences as a first…