I love Islam and cream soda

It was May 29, 2020. A Friday—Jumu'ah, the sacred day of the week in Islam. For me, it was a day of celebration, reflection, and, ultimately, survival, because by the end of it I would be fighting for my life.  Earlier in the week, I had built a crib for my son. Vernon hadn’t arrived yet, but I was getting ready. His mother was nesting—physically and emotionally—and I was doing my part to make sure she had everything she needed. That Saturday, the plan was to help her move furniture and put stuff into storage, helping clear space in her place and in our lives for this new beginning. I was exhausted, sure—but excited. I wasn’t just preparing for a baby. I was preparing to be a father, fully and with intention. During the day, I was working as a care manager for Second Chance Center in Aurora. Our office had gone virtual because of COVID, but the work didn’t stop. We kept the services alive through rotating the office cell phone among care managers, being on-call ...

In American culture, the concept of what it means to be "American" has often been framed through a lens of whiteness, creating a complicated dynamic in racial relations, particularly between Black and white communities. This essay explores how the understanding of identity, privilege, and power dynamics has evolved, particularly in light of historical and contemporary issues surrounding race, gender, and cultural perceptions. From the arrival of African slaves, the notion of Americanness was interwoven with the idea of whiteness. Enslaved Africans were among the first to recognize the societal construct that privileged white identity. This realization ignited a yearning for acceptance, leading to a complex dialogue around skin color, cultural identity, and the futile attempts of some to imitate or assimilate into white society. The desire to be perceived as "white" has historically manifested in various cultural debates, including present-day discussions about inter...