As we prepare to gather with our relatives in the upcoming holiday season, the November Meetup served as a space for sharing experiences and gathering tools to support us in navigating tough conversations—often political discourse—with our relatives at the dinner table. As a group, we remembered the importance of maintaining our relationships while also living out our core values.
For many individuals in recent times, gathering at the dinner table has been corrupted by polarizing topics of conversation that often lead to toxic dialogue. Politics, in particular, have been an alarming source of feuding, as mentioned by Tovia Smith in a 2020 episode of NPR’s
Whether you are a Barbie collector or not, news of the limited edition Día De Los Muertos doll has stores selling out and knowledge of the historical and cultural holiday at its peak.
Many individuals of mixed identity can relate to the resentment or confusion produced by checking off racial categories from data collection entities like the U.S. census. Many within a diaspora do not understand their ethnic origins but are often forced to work with constricting identity labels.
Connecting with our ancestors can often be a complex and difficult journey for people of mixed identities. The October Meetup created space for our members to share and find ways they honor ancestors and how ancestral spirits can ground us in our identities and guide us along our different journeys.
As the late author, social activist, and Distinguished Professor bell hooks(1952-2021) opens with this statement in the preface of her book, Where We Stand: Class Matters, she sets the tone for her argument that class oppression is a hidden evil less readily discussed than sexism and racism.
BIPOC businesses have opened the window of opportunity for conscientious and mission-based companies. With a recent surge of successful BIPOC businesses from Black haircare and ethically-sourced baked goods, to brick-and-mortar bookshops and book clubs, it’s evident that highlighting marginalized voices serves communities beyond a single zip code.
The September Meetup explored the many perceptions of class and its effect on our familial relationships and generational shifts. We asked our audience in a journaling exercise: What is your definition of success?
Our hair is often misunderstood—even by us. As mixed, Black, Asian, Latinx, and Indigenous folks, the distinctive nature of hair, when met with societal expectations to assimilate, leaves many at an impasse.
