I solemnly swear to make the world less hellish for gay and bisexual black boys. Boys too sensitive to meet a masculinity standard thrust on them by their own communities. Boys trapped in high schools where their version of puberty is glossed over, crossed out, or rejected by their teachers and peers. I write for teenagers, … Continue reading How Publishing Is Failing LGBT Kids of Color
The Hate U Give is Angie Thomas’s highly anticipated debut novel based on the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s now a #1 New York Times Bestseller, with Amandla Stenberg slated to play the lead in its movie adaptation. The book’s big reputation is bound to get even bigger from here. Rare as it is for … Continue reading Why Everyone Needs To Read ‘The Hate U Give’ By Angie Thomas
Spoilers ahead! If you haven’t seen Get Out and don’t want to be spoiled, don’t read on. I have a sneaking suspicion that many people who’ve seen Get Out absolutely loved it, but left the theater oblivious to the size and importance of its satire. I’m not talking about the middle portion of Get Out … Continue reading The Satirical Social Genius of ‘Get Out’ Goes Well Beyond the Obvious
I made a bet with my friend about which film would take the Academy Award for best picture this year. I said Moonlight; he said La La Land. We made this bet after seeing Moonlight, not having seen La La Land. My friend was sure critics would choose a white film regardless of anything, but … Continue reading Why Moonlight Should Beat La La Land for Best Picture (Oscars 2017)
A gander at my Spotify library makes the average person back away from the screen in horror. Not because I listen to anything heavy or grating--I don't. But my music collection evokes comments such as, “You like this?” and “I wouldn’t expect this from you" and "This sounds like cult music..." No, friends, I am … Continue reading Five Brilliant Indie Rock Acts You’re Probably Missing Out On
Ryan Douglass 