Sometimes people will ask me for advice on how to maintain both creative work and social activism for the long haul, and every time, one of the most crucial suggestions I can offer is to take honest-to-goodness breaks. I’ll say, “You are no good to anyone if you are too tired or too burnt out.” The […]

art by Mickalene Thomas   Spend this Black History Month remembering the activists upon whose work we build, and upon whose shoulders we stand. Connect with writers, thinkers, artists, and creators you may never have heard of; or dig deeper into the work of old favorites. Celebrate #blackgirlmagic. Applaud #blackboyjoy. Tune into the diaspora and witness that […]

At FemFreq, despite being deeply concerned with media and with how representations in the media impact our culture, we don’t always get to talk about the media we love. Sometimes it’s because we just don’t have time to review a particular work, and sometimes it’s simply that it doesn’t fall within the scope of what we […]

What a daunting task: twelve months, five moments or makings, at least one or two reasons as to why each truly spoke to me. But, here we go and here they are (in no particular order). 1. Lady Dynamite It was one heck of a year for stand-up comedians, was it not? I’m talking about Maria Bamford, […]

Composing year-end lists appeals to my desire for useless organization and my tendency toward capricious judgment.  Nevertheless, I started this project with a smug certainty that I had enjoyed absolutely nothing this year and I was going to retreat to the FemFreq bunker with my graham crackers and colored pencils. I still might. But until I do, and in the spirit […]

The books, films, games and television shows that spoke to me most in 2016 are linked by questions of identity: who we are in isolation and who we are in connection, how society pressures some of us to conceal our truest selves, and how brave and radical an act it can be for some of us […]

The Hunger Games is one of the most popular young adult novel series rivaling Harry Potter and Twilight.  As the first of its film adaptations was just released in March 2012, readers and audiences have been pleasantly surprised at this fresh, dynamic, young female protagonist.  In this video I’ll explore Katniss’ character in the first novel […]