#bipoc

✨10 yrs ago, in the face of the 2016 election and growing book bans, we launched a gathering run by and for children’s bk creators telling stories that mainstream publishers too often leave out. Our mission: Promote social justice through the power of children’s books.

✨What started as a 1-time event has grown to an annual gathering drawing over 600 people and 60+ creators and organizations. We’ve also launched the Social Justice Children’s Book Award, and we co-curate YouthLit programming with the @baybookfest . Last year, with @theconsciouskid and the Juvenile Justice Literacy Project, we put 4,000 books into the hands of kids in Bay Area schools, through the San Quentin literacy project and tribal libraries.

✨None of this happens without YOU. Volunteers, families, educators, and our partners make this work possible. And we are so grateful for this community.

✨Today, book bans are happening at the federal level, ICE raids are tearing families apart, and major publishers are pulling back even more from these kinds of stories. Yet our movement is growing, because people understand the importance of independent, community-rooted spaces.

✨For our 10th year we’re taking things to another level: more creators, more activities, and more kids and families. We are now working year round, growing our partnerships, programming, and launching a mentorship program for the next generation of storytellers.

✨To help make this happen, Viva’s Voice! author Raquel Donoso is matching up to $5,000 in donations over the next 30 days. Please join us:

⭐️Donate today HERE -Share with 5 people. -Share our campaign on IG or Facebook.

✨Thx for believing in this work with us for 10 years. Here’s to ten more! In solidarity,

you're not dumb. you're valid, but here's the thing — there's too many white passing POC this season.

at first, it didn't bother me until this week progressed. you see how easy it is for POC like dee, drew, and lyric to be well-insulated in the house? yet everytime lala breathes, speaks or walks around in her bikini, it's a problem? or the fact that haley has been hellbent on making lala seem like an aggressive black woman, even encouraging angela to pick a fight with her?

while it's cool to see all forms of POC showcased this season, this cast still are white passing from bird's eye view... especially to BIPOC fans and viewers from urban communities like me who have endlessly watched houseguests who look like us express themselves verbally, emotionally, creatively, and happily and become targets of microaggressions every single season.

we'd die of alcohol poisoning every time a non-POC or non-black houseguest has insinuated that a black HG would flip if they were put on the block or confronted. 

if we're being technical, yes, there's still a chunk of representation in BB28, but it's definitely reduced and optically white-washed. technically, there is 47% BIPOC representation this season (lala, taylor, chuk, jason, yash, dee, drew, and lyric). it's 3% less than the rule that was meant to be followed until trump screwed it up and bari weiss took over the network.

it's considerate, but we're still under a fucked political administration right now; it makes sense the casting team still have to find a way to not only appease the administration (who's already ruining the industry with the paramount/WB merger as is), but make it palatable for middle american casuals who have bitched about POC winners and representation ever since the cookout dominated the modern era.

mind you, it could have been 35% BIPOC this season if dee and yash weren't on the season. i don't care for him, but we were lucky to even get yash, who was an alternate cast member thar replaced ANOTHER white boy that would have been on the season.

i also do NOT count kamu, the "jawaiian" MMA fighter because white jamaicans exist, and he definitely is white passing and makes his views loud and clear.

the bottom line is, even if it isn't 25% BIPOC or less, from a POC who identifies as an african-american, it still feels that way. 

I don't want to have to go back to my abusive family. 😭

https://www.paypal.me/StellaLovejoy

Cashtag: $JustJules777

Zelle: [email protected]

I literally just want to cover this month's rent and I can figure something out for next month's rent. I have been applying to jobs every day for the past month and a half since the week after I graduated from University. I owe the government money. I owe my abusive family money. I can't take on any more debt.

i feel like the new response to things of that sort should be "I hear you"

I simply want to be heard properly, not met with phony statements that just feel pitiful. cause they don't get it. they'll never fully or even 50% get what its like in my mind/situation and so many others.