Spring 2022 - A Few Words
The HOTLIST Top 5 - Writers Edition
THL Top 5 Writers for June- Follow + Subscribe
Do you know Luvvie Jones? She wrote one of my favorite articles ever about how Black women are the grownups in the room.
"Black women are the moral center of the universe and can’t nobody tell me different. In spite of the fact that we have our heads stepped on, we’re disrespected constantly, and treated like we are disposable, we show up. We speak up, show out, and stand up for everyone, even those who don’t deserve it." Black women are the Adults in the ROOM, ZORA, April 2020
Read on for some of my favorite grownups. Share them, subscribe to them, and compensate them for their work! Happy reading! -Em
1. Sharon Hurley Hall - Anti-Racism Newsletter
Platform: Substack Newsletter title: Sharon Hurley Hall's Anti-Racism Newsletter For: White people who want to do the work and learn, and anyone that likes direct, concise writing about some truly effed up stuff. For Black people who want to feel seen. For those of us who want to do better (all of us) check it out and #subscribe.
Sharon Hurley Hall's newsletter is my go-to for straight talk about White Supremacy and Anti-Black Racism. Sharon, Founder and Curator-in-Chief (We love this title!), is on a mission to “fight racism one article at a time.”
Sharon was awarded a Substack fellowship last year and you will see why. Full disclosure: We are mutual fans; she gave me a shout-out too, after I posted a shorter version of this in the HOT LIST). (Total coincidence!) Sharon is also a member of the FLOWLab and a frequent contributor to rich conversations about everything from racism to the best tool to use for your stack.
Sharon's was the first newsletter I finally paid for (I was already supporting creators on Patreon though.) Zero regrets, except all the subscriptions for far too many other newsletters I have signed up since. I recently renewed and it's always spot on.
Bonus: Lisa Hurley - Happy Happy Phoenix
Sharon's sister, Lisa Hurley is a rad human.
She is also a prolific writer and creator (and they co-host a podcast together for introverts).
Lisa wrote an epic piece for Juneteenth that is a must read for anyone (white) who still doesn't know exactly what to do on the 19th. Read on and subscribe to get her updates too.
Juneteenth 2022: Commemoration without Commercialization: How companies can avoid Walmart's missteps and do better.
2. Madison Butler's - Unicorn Nuggets
Platform: LinkedIn Read: Women don't owe you shit (a post on LinkedIn, not from her Newsletter). Also read Issue 6 for a personal piece, perfect for Pride month.
For: Intersectional Feminists doing the work, people who love opinionated, strong voices and solid writing! Anyone wanting straight talk, no B.S. from a rad AF queer Black woman, DV survivor, C-Suite human resources innovator and speaker.
Subscribers: Close to 40k, she had 27k subscribers in the first 2 weeks!
Deets: Great sections and layout. Fun and engaging while serving the tea and truth around startups, the workplace and DEI. Cute af graphics.
Madison Butler is doing ALL THE THINGS. Speaking, writing, coaching, consulting, founder, co-founder, and a full time roll where she was recently promoted to Chief People Officer. She is a force and we are so here for it.
Learn more about her creation and launch of Black Speakers Collection (Over 2k speakers and counting!!) She was even featured on the airtable blog.
She's also co-founder of Rage 2 Rainbows (with me, Em!). Enough said.
Hire Madison here at Blue Haired Unicorn.
For: Intersectional feminists who want a STRONG voice. Read her and shout yes, yes, yes every single time. Mona Eltahawy- (Former reporter, current curator) and feminist author, commentator and disruptor of patriarchy.
"Every day on Twitter, I curate news of patriarchal fuckery and feminist resistance to it from around the world. I am moving that curation here, where twice a week - Wednesday and Friday, paid interns—younger feminists I am delighted to work with and to share my platform with—will collect global feminist news and weave it with brief commentary."
Follow her on Twitter for SURE. She has a really interesting background and I love how she has no effs to give.
4. Roxane Gay - The Audacity
One of the best writers ever. THE AUDACITY does not disappoint.
People curate what they put from their lives into the public sphere but a good writer makes what they curate one hell of a story. That’s what I hope to do with this newsletter—tell one hell of a story about the world we’re living in, the culture we consume, the things that bring me joy, the things that infuriate me, the things I think we should talk about.
I am also going to use this space to feature the work of others.
And she hosts a monthly book club for subscribers.
Roxane Gay also features emerging writers' essays, like this piece by Kaushika Suresh "Examination Abridged is mind-blowingly brilliant. "Kaushika Suresh is the non-fiction editor for Black Warrior Review. Their work has appeared in Joyland and The Masters Review. They are currently at work on a novel about gossip, girls, and existing between cultures. @kaushikasuresh"
The Audacious Roundup is a weekly hot list from one of the best voices out there. She is on top of the latest in pop culture and the news...which I find helpful af.
Seriously read ANYTHING by Roxane Gay including any of her essays in the NYT.
And of course this recent gem: Feminism is Fine. Take a breath.
As Gay notes,
"Michelle Goldberg wrote about how feminism is struggling and younger people, in particular, don’t identify as feminist or believe feminism is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with her essay but I am surprised by how often we accept the results of one study as an indication of anything."
Clearly I agree about bad data. See this post on why it can be dangerous if not vetted well.
I too found Goldberg's piece fine and interesting but concur it stirs controversy which may not be a wise move.
5. Allison Gaines - Cultured
What Will Congress Do To Protect Black Women’s Right to Choose? The Supreme Court’s latest stunt violates America’s Equal Protection Clause.
I don't know Allison nearly as well as some of the others. Well I only personally know about half the writers mentioned here. I have only recently discovered Gaines' work. It makes her no less bada$$ and in fact it shows how many amazing voices there are worth amplifying and sharing I have yet to discover. She is a prolific blogger/publisher. IMHO she is one to follow, one to watch.
Love this quote:
Bonus author: Michael Harriot
His writing is the bomb and his Juneteenth piece was on point.
BUT it's his Twitter threads that are NOT to be missed!
BONUS
Want other ways to support Black women each and every day of the year, and not just for Black History month or Juneteenth?
Use this list from "100 Years of Politics, Persisting, and Patriarchy" by Emily Weltman, published in The Ascent ahead of the 2020 election.
Don’t just study the true history of being Black in America; use it to act.
Pay BIPOC creators and artists, via Venmo, cash app, or “Buy me a Coffee” links. It is appropriate and more than welcome to pay them for their labor.
Spend at local Black women-owned businesses and share lists like these.
Follow and pay Black independent journalists and photographers.
Fulfill urgent needs from mutual aid orgs like Snack Bloc and the Rural Project of Oregon.
Donate supplies to local activations. (Refer to local lists requesting individual needs like this one).
Give to local Black-led organizations like Don’t Shoot PDX or the Black Resilience Fund whose efforts directly help Black communities.
Support Black candidates: Volunteer, canvas, and finance grassroots campaigns.
Fight for Black women’s suffrage. Bring them to the polls or watch their kids so they can go vote.
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