Thought Chronicles

I’m an avid fan of classic literature, but I feel like in the world of academia, people are very euro/white-centric and forget many amazing black authors of classic books, so here’s a small list!

“Beloved” by Toni Morrison

“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison

“Native Son” by Richard Wright

“Go Tell it on the Mountain” by James Baldwin

“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker

“Not Without Laughter” by Langston Hughes

“Cane” by Jean Toomer

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston

“Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde

“The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man” by James Weldon Johnson

“Through the Ivory Gate” by Rita Dove

“A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry

“Passing” by Nella Larsen

“Amiable with Big Teeth” by Claude McKay

“Imperium in Imperio” by Sutton Griggs

“The Street” by Ann Petry

“The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas

“Narrative of Sojourner Truth” by Sojourner Truth

“The Curse of Caste” by Julia C. Collins

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Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? 

is your room messy or clean?

what color are your eyes?

do you like your name? why?

what is your relationship status? 

describe your personality in 3 words or less

what color hair do you have?

what kind of car do you drive? color?

where do you shop?

how would you describe your style?

favorite social media account

what size bed do you have? 

any siblings?

if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why?

favorite snapchat filter? 

favorite makeup brand(s)

how many times a week do you shower?

favorite tv show?

shoe size?

how tall are you?

sandals or sneakers? 

do you go to the gym? 

describe your dream date

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment?

what color socks are you wearing? 

how many pillows do you sleep with?

do you have a job? what do you do? 

how many friends do you have? 

whats the worst thing you have ever done? 

whats your favorite candle scent? 

3 favorite boy names

3 favorite girl names

favorite actor? 

favorite actress? 

who is your celebrity crush?

favorite movie? 

do you read a lot? whats your favorite book? 

money or brains? 

do you have a nickname? what is it? 

how many times have you been to the hospital?

top 10 favorite songs

do you take any medications daily? 

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc)

what is your biggest fear? 

how many kids do you want? 

whats your go to hair style?

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) 

who is your role model? 

what was the last compliment you received?

what was the last text you sent?

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real?

what is your dream car? 

opinion on smoking?

do you go to college? 

what is your dream job? 

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? 

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? 

do you have freckles? 

do you smile for pictures?

how many pictures do you have on your phone? 

have you ever peed in the woods? 

do you still watch cartoons? 

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds?

Favorite dipping sauce? 

what do you wear to bed? 

have you ever won a spelling bee?

 what are your hobbies?

can you draw? 

do you play an instrument?

what was the last concert you saw? 

tea or coffee?

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?

do you want to get married?

what is your crush’s first and last initial?

are you going to change your last name when you get married? 

what color looks best on you? 

do you miss anyone right now? 

do you sleep with your door open or closed?

do you believe in ghosts?

what is your biggest pet peeve? 

last person you called`

favorite ice cream flavor? 

regular oreos or golden oreos? 

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? 

what shirt are you wearing? 

what is your phone background?

are you outgoing or shy?

do you like it when people play with your hair?

do you like your neighbors? 

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning?

have you ever been high? 

have you ever been drunk? 

last thing you ate? 

favorite lyrics right now

summer or winter? 

day or night? 

dark, milk, or white chocolate? 

favorite month? 

what is your zodiac sign

i mean, i read this and all i can think is that capitalism sucks. because we live in a society where so much of our identity is tied to our career. so if you don’t have career goals or some big lofty goal, then you begin to doubt your worth, capability, or wonder if you need counseling.

the fact that we have to work, sucks. the fact that in order to be seen as valuable and productive, we must have a job, sucks. i don’t think not being a person who is consumed by their career goals means you’re lazy or there is something wrong with you. i think you’re hitting that wall where you’re questioning why so much of who you are must be intertwined with what job you have.

i personally hit that wall as well, and i realized that i didn’t want being a lawyer to be the most interesting thing about me. i went to law school thinking i would be a big corporate attorney. i came out a bleeding heart public defender. and even now i’m in a competitive field within that space, and i don’t have that desire to be the best at my job. i want to do good work and i want my work to matter. but i used to wonder why i wasn’t sitting around trying to be as competitive as my co workers

and i realized the issue was capitalism, making me feel like i had to compete for value, and earn my worth through career achievement

so now i’m in a place where i want to do good work that does good work for society, but i want more in life than just career success. so yes, while i have had more trials than many of my colleagues, and i’m a better attorney than many of my colleagues, my desire isn’t to grab for power or status. 

i just want to be happy. and having career ambition doesn’t always have to be a part of that narrative. i can have ambition for other parts of my life. i can desire to be the best wife i can be, the best daughter i can be, the best friend i can be. those can be huge amazing goals too.