hypercurly

I am 2000 and late on the news, but it was a few days ago when I learned of The Book Club created and organized by Chicago rapper Noname. Initially started last year, I came across a tweet of hers on twitter when looking for some type of escapism from the horror of death, fire and military action by the U.S. in the Middle East.

The tweet I stumbled upon links to the Patreon of said book club and when I read on, I learned that it aims to become an online/IRL community dedicated to uplifting POC voices. Two authors of color will be highlighted each month by the club to be read and discussed along with local meetups in select cities. Imagine the smile on my face poking around on their website and the social media seeing so many Black and Brown folks with reading material, with smiles and most of all–gathered together.

But what takes the cake? What made me take out my wallet and sit down and bust this piece out on a Saturday morning before second breakfast? Noname’s Bookclub has a vision of sustainability and a pledge to push for education. With every subscription to the Patreon means compensating staff, graphic designers, photographers, and facilitators which is key. In a day and time where huge, multi-million dollar publications are still pushing unpaid internships and rent (is too damn high!) control still doesn’t exist in many places around the country–attempting to create and keep something creative ongoing is ideal and realistically needs support and especially support by way of dollar bills. The website also mentions that a 2020 goal is that they also want to raise funds to send their monthly picks to select prisons in various cities.

Further detailed is the push for acknowledging bookstore and libraries: for example, there are links to the Los Angeles Public Library and the Chicago Public Library who partnered up with the book club. As for the bookstores, shopping locally is encouraged with photos, addresses and phone numbers to such book havens like Hakim’s Bookstore in Philadelphia and the Reparations Club in Los Angeles. The stress to shop local is felt at the bottom of the about page on the website with the words: Noname. No Amazon. Shop Local. The intent is further felt when glancing on social media with such tweets as the one below, advertising #FuckAmazonDay where on January 11, a mass registering for library cards to promote free access to book and education will take place. Excited, I am.

Racial microaggressions you hear on a daily basis in America

Photographer Kiyun asked her friends at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus to “write down an instance of racial microaggression they have faced.”

My piece for ECCC’s 2020 Monster and Dames charity book! 

Something very different from my usual stuff, but I had a lot of fun with it. 

More details about where/how to buy the book soon! 

Tista Das, a transgender activist and actress, married her partner Dipan Chakraborty in a Hindu ceremony  in Agarpara, Kolkata in front of friends, neighbours and family members.

The couple met while Tista was working at a trans legal clinic. Dipan is also transgender. 

More over at Pink News.

“This wedding will boost the transgender community. It will  have a huge impact as the trans community fears being  rejected by society. I wish Dipan and Tista a happy married  life. They are both wonderful human beings,” said Aparajita Bose, a member Human Rights Law Network Kolkata, to The Times of India.