When I was eleven years old, my paternal grandmother took me to the supermarket to buy a push-up bra, a rotisserie chicken, and introduce me to my culture—my “birthright” as she called it.
She said to me, “Now that you’re older, Gracie m’dear, people are going to start caring about what you have to say about our people. People are going to start asking you questions. It’s important to me that you don’t get it wrong.”
Antioch Voices is a forum that allows members of our community to speak about an issue important to them. In this piece, coinciding with Gallbladder Cancer and Bile Duct Cancer Awareness Month, MFA student Stefanie Paredes considers what it means to be a writer with grief.
One of my favorite sounds is children at play. Coming from a background in theater, my partner and I have always valued play. Our kids are both encouraged to do a lot of it, which I believe serves them.
Declared a holiday by UNESCO in 1996, the International Day for Tolerance commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance by United Nations Member States on November 16, 1995. The UN declared 1995 as the Year for Tolerance…
Earlier this year, I moved from a suburb in Texas to a neighborhood in downtown Seattle. I was immediately confronted with the issue of homelessness in Seattle. In particular, I noticed a majority of the homeless I saw were youth and young adults.
I returned to graduate school at age 40 to pursue a career as a therapist. It has always been a secret desire of mine, and when I unexpectedly lost my mother, I decided that this was the time to do everything I’ve always wanted to do. I knew returning to academia as an older adult would be challenging in various ways; however, it was undoubtedly the best decision.
Sitting there wanting to share your truth, choking on the words that describe your true self. Fear races through your mind that you may not be enough for them to stay. Your truth, a deep vulnerability, is not enough. A simple comment is like pulling tar from your mouth. “This moment is perfect,” you think to yourself,
When I had my brother on the phone a few months ago, he asked me out of the blue if I was proud to be Jewish. I told him, of course, I was. My first book of poetry, which hadn’t been released yet, would be titled Kosher, a title that I chose to pay homage to my Jewish roots (despite not keeping kosher during my meals).
Take notice and take action. It was care that spurred change. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the landmark Endangered Species Act. Signed in 1973, this bill arose after more than a decade of advocacy and litigation from scientists, writers, and concerned citizens who noticed sharp declines in iconic wildlife species.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is upon us. On one hand, this month is an opportunity to remember the history, pain, and joy experienced by both communities. However, on the other hand, quite often, it feels as though the “Pacific Islander” part of the acronym is a forgotten add-on.
Y’all… I’m so tired. In previous years, International Transgender Day of Visibility has been a joyous and proud occasion for me. My gender identity, as I now see it, has been my truth for nearly a decade, and my deliberate decision to live openly and honor that identity in my expression followed shortly after.
“If you love a tree, you will be more beautiful than before!” – Amit Ray.
This year, the theme for the International Day of Forests, “Forests and Health,” is an invitation and an opportunity to reflect on what these expansive ecosystems do for us and how we can, in turn, serve them through conservation, species preservation, mindful nutrition, and ecological awareness.