#dangerbabegang

In honor of Diwali just passing, it’s brought up a bunch of issues of cultural appropriation relating to Indian and Hindu culture. Many people have talked about how it’s problematic for people who are not of that culture to wear things from that culture. I just want to let you guys know that it’s important you people ask the people who ARE ACTUALLY PART OF THAT RACE.

To be honest, it makes me feel diminished and even more voiceless when those in a greater position of power are talking for people who don’t even have those opinions. I think that it’s really annoying that some people feel the need to take charge. I know they mean well by calling things like this cultural appropriation, but it makes me feel like I was brushed off. I’d just like to talk about a few Indian things: Henna

People think that this is enormously significant and some people even refrain from applying henna because of cultural appropriation. Henna is eucalyptus paste. It’s a wonderful way to do some nice temporary tattoos that will last for a few weeks. It’s not limited to just Indians. Traditionally, it’s just done at weddings. There’s a “henna party” for the bride and her female guests and they all get henna done. Women all around countries near India wear henna. My mom dyes her hair with henna. It’s a wonderful and fun thing and if you’re willing to experiment and try new cultural things, go for it. It’s a bunch of mashed up eucalyptus leaves than stains your skin, it’s not limited to one group of people.

Saris

Saris are actually a traditional piece of clothing. It’s associated with South Asian culture, usually Indian. Wearing a sari itself is not a problem, if it’s respectful to the culture. When it’s mockery, then wearing a sari would be disrespectful and racist. Same goes for other Indian garments and bindis.

Hi there, my name is Lorelle, i’ve submitted things to you before as @raind0wn, and I am a huge fan of this blog! I run this blog called Dangerbabegang which is a group of people who discuss politics, trans + lgbtqia rights, feminism, racism, ableism, mental health and world news. I was wondering if you could promo this on your page, if that’s not too much to ask! We’re looking for submissions and input for our Trans tuesday   Woman of Color Wednesday Sex Positive Saturday themed days in all mediaforms! art, poetry, paragraphs, resources, or I could conduct an interview. thanks! Lorelle / Dangerbabegang

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How I Deal With Anxiety Attacks hello babes, Lorelle here, sitting at work in my office just recovering from an anxiety attack caused by stress and loud noises and timelines. thought i'd share some things i do to help cope so that i can be somewhat functional at work. Preventative:

limit my caffeine intake. it makes me twitchy and anxious, and it is too easy to drink too much coffee and become suceptible to attacks

make an anti-anxiety playlist, my personal one includes a lot of the ramones, upbeat and fast enough i can distract my thoughts, and not super angry sounding.

have a notebook to draw in, write down my stressers, or draw to distract myself and calm down,

similarily, a word find book or sudoku or something i can focus on

exercise every evening around 6 pm to release stress (jumping jacks to punk rock)

During the Event:

if i feel an attack coming on, i either shut my door or go to the bathroom, somewhere i can be by myself, and deep breathe, run my hands under cool water

put my head on my knees and deep breathe as well as possible

if especially bad, call a loved one or friend, get them to talk to me about their day so i can focus on that

put my head on my desk and breath

After

make myself tea, or drink some water

i have a list of affirmations saved on my phone that goes as follows: I am not useless i am not defective i can overcome what is making me anxious in small steps i am not alone in my anxiety just because i have attacks, does not mean i am weak

put on a sweater, keep warm,

give myself a 5 minute rest period before going back to work

Hope this is helpful!

Stay Calm, Stay dangerous,

<333

Having a daily reminder of cuteness can improve your mood, check out the cat of the day here

Follow your local politicians on social media, as they are more likely to answer your questions than the federal politicians.

Don't ask people about their genitals. regardless of gender or orientation. don't do it, it's weird and rude.

Adding lemon or cucumber or mint to a pitcher of water makes it easier to drink more of it, stay hydrated in this weather!

I don’t think there is a list, but there should be one so I’m going to start it with Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She’s a Nigerian author and I think the book is a great for anyone who wants a better understanding of what it’s like to be a first generation immigrant in America. It’s in the form of a tirelessly tested love affair between two Igbo people, but it addresses many race issues, gender issues, immigration issued, political issues, and just about everything you can think of. There are a lot of contrasts of African Americans and American Africans, interracial relationships, and muc more. I highly recommend this book.

A powerful, tender story of race and identity by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun.

Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland.

Awards

● Winner of the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction ● One of The New York Times’s Ten Best Books of the Year ● Winner of the The Chicago Tribune 2013 Heartland Prize for Fiction ● An NPR “Great Reads” Book, a Washington Post Notable Book, a Seattle Times Best Book, an Entertainment Weekly Top Fiction Book, a Newsday Top 10 Book, and a Goodreads Best of the Year pick.

“An incredibly readable and rich tapestry of Nigerian and American life, and the ways a handful of vivid characters—so vivid they feel like family—try to live in both worlds simultaneously. As she did so masterfully with Half of a Yellow Sun, Adichie paints on a grand canvas, boldly and confidently, equally adept at conveying the complicated political backdrop of Lagos as she is in bringing us into the day-to-day lives of her many new Americans—a single mom, a student, a hairdresser. This is a very funny, very warm and moving intergenerational epic that confirms Adichie’s virtuosity, boundless empathy and searing social acuity.”—DAVE EGGERS, AUTHOR OF A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING

c.a.s-r-k

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The story of the birth of the modern Women’s Movement.

Free documentary series on PBS about feminism and its origins, encompassing woman of colour, lgbt, and various important events throughout the movements history.