Posts by Maisha Z. Johnson
5 Ways ‘Respectability Politics’ Blame Black Women for Their Own Oppression
Your appearance, your emotions, your sexuality and more – have you learned any of these lessons in respectability politics? This info helped this author start to unlearn the racist self-hatred – and it might help you do the same.
Read More6 Struggles of Being Unapologetically Black in a Professional Environment
Raven-Symoné got a lot of attention for her recent comments on “ghetto” names. And names are just one of the ways workplace norms can exclude black people. Are any of these familiar to you?
Read More6 Ways You’re Taught to Appropriate (Not Appreciate) Other Cultures
“But I’m honoring your culture!” Do you think you’re just appreciating other cultures when people say you’re appropriating? Here are the disturbing lessons giving you that inaccurate – and oppressive – point of view.
Read MoreI Hate Cultural Appropriation – But Have I Appropriated African Cultures as a Black American?
Can African Americans appropriate African cultures? This author had to stop, listen, and think when she came across this tough question – and here’s what she found out.
Read More8 Reasons You Want to Touch Black Women’s Hair – And Why They Mean You Shouldn’t
Ever wanted to touch a black woman’s hair? This author’s heard even your most well-meaning reasons, and here’s why they’re harmful.
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