Jul 25, 2022Late night thoughtsIs there a point of no return? Where I might as well stay up till morning? Will sleep come? Or should I start to work on something new? All these ideas Are swimming Through my head. I feel energized. I’ll probably pay tomorrow, with droopy eyelids when I need to be alert. Might as well just face it. I really need to sleep. Best start counting sheep. What if I counted ships instead? Sailing over the horizon Giant sailing ships.Poetry1 min readPoetry1 min read
Jun 13, 2022The Sarah ProblemHow mediocre white women discredit Black Leaders — We all know what a Karen is and today I would like to tell you about Sarah. Sarah slides under the radar because everyone is paying attention to the loud Karen asking to speak to the manager. Sarah wants the same thing as Karen but she is underhanded and manipulative…Sarah Baxter8 min readSarah Baxter8 min read
Jun 8, 2022Allies UnmaskedHow white “allies” turn against their Black “friends — It happens like this. You, a Black person, makes some white friends. It might start as one friend but they always have other friends so in the end it’s some white friends. You’re really excited because they talk the talk and walk the walk. They used phrases like “listen to…Allyship4 min readAllyship4 min read
Apr 19, 2022What do you mean when you say inclusive?Why we need to move past diversity and inclusion and create a new framework based on centering neglected voices — In early spring of 2007 I sat in a brightly lit room of fellow cadets and officers to have an honest discussion of race in America particularly how we could improve race relations at the Coast Guard Academy. We had just watched a performance of the play spinning into butter…Black Women8 min readBlack Women8 min read
Apr 14, 2022All Dolled UpA Poem by Monetta Wilson — you show up all dolled up They look at you sideways talking about “you changed your hair again” “why are you always changing your hair?” they have no idea they have no idea how many hours it takes how much coins it takes they have no idea they don’t know…Poetry2 min readPoetry2 min read
Apr 2, 2022It’s more than “just hair”How Black women’s hair is used to define out gender and sexuality. — When I cut off my hair in December 2011 my aunt asked “how will you go to work”. When I I went to work the principal asked “what kind of style is this?” Short hair has been seen as many things on black women and I learned all of them…Black Women4 min readBlack Women4 min read
Mar 30, 2022My First TimeRecounting the first time I experienced racism at the US Coast Guard Academy — Previously published on the now defunct Contemporary Spinster online magazine in summer 2020 The year is 2004. It’s December in Connecticut. Finals season. I have a long weekend and my computer needs to be sent away for repairs. I request some days off base and head to IT to turn…Racism4 min readRacism4 min read
