Why We Shouldn't Cut Ryan Lochte Slack

Since when is a 32 year old man considered a "kid having fun in another country"? I guess when he is a white Olympic gold medalist. Man, let me tell you something about white privilege, it is not some made up term by millennials, it's absolutely real. White privilege is being able to make up a heroic story about getting robbed and people are absolutely okay with it. White privilege is being called a "kid" when caught in a lie, yet 12 and 18 year old black boys can't get justice because they are seen as men in the eyes of police. White privilege is support from the media after causing a huge scandal, but Gabby Douglas has to deal with the media's criticism because she didn't put her hand up for the national anthem. White privilege is calling Lochte's story fabricated or exaggerated instead of holding him accountable for his lie.

Ryan Lochte is a grown man, and let's not down play that. I don't want an apology from Lochte stating that he over-exaggerated a story... I want him to recognize that what he did was absolutely wrong. He had the nerve to paint this picture of Brazilians making it look as if they are thieves and savages; when in actuality he couldn't hold his liquor, committed an act of vandalism and fled the country. He also abandoned his teammates in Rio, and in response all he had to say was "I apologize for not being more careful and candid, it was very immature"... I think what he meant is that he is sorry for not being a good liar, because what he did was illegal. We need to do better and start holding white people accountable for their "immature" actions. No, actually... white people need to do better and start holding other white people accountable for their "immature" actions. I'm so tired of seeing black people's mental health suffer because of white-washed media when white men are defended for doing wrong and embarrassing our country.

All I am saying is that if this was someone else (especially a black athlete), this would be a whole different story. I'm pretty sure their medals and endorsements would've been revoked the second the Olympic officials found out they had lied. Child, I'm currently stirring my drink like Al Roker.


**Update Ryan Lochte has an endorsement with a company that makes crime prevention devices, what a time to be white.

The Black Church's Role in Social Justice and Public Health

What is really upsetting to me is the black church's silence on health and social justice related issues. I think the biggest fear the church has is being labeled as liberal. One thing that I can say is that Jesus was a social justice advocate and he healed people from many different illnesses. We can still open our arms to those in need, because Jesus said Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matthew 7:1-3).. so why are we condemning people for who they love when our brothers and sisters are dying from gun violence and HIV?

When it comes to social justice, I think about the Civil Rights movement and how the church was the meeting ground for organizing protests and community meetings. I truly want to know what changed? After the shooting in Charleston, I really thought that black churches would speak up against gun violence, but I didn't hear anything... there was silence. I have heard of many older adults and preachers not supporting Black Lives Matter, because they think it is shameful to our community. I know that they truly don't understand the movement, but if we could just have dialogues in our churches about the disproportionate amount of black people killed by the police in our community, our mental health would be so much better. The church is the common ground for many black people and I believe that it is time to change the outlook that the black church has on modern day civil rights. I also believe that we can't pick and choose who we advocate for. When we say that Black Lives Matter that means that black women and black LGBTQ lives also matter. We can pray for whomever but we also need to #SayHerName and take action.

The black church has no idea how many lives it could save if we start implementing (more) public health interventions and programs into our place of worship. Black people are suffering from health disparities which means that we are dying from non-communicable diseases at a higher rate than any other race. Non-communicable as in preventable diseases. We really have to break the taboo and start talking about issues that are impacting us, like intimate partner violence, sexual health, and mental illnesses. In order for this to work we also have to stop victim blaming women who have been sexually assaulted or involved in domestic violent relationships. We also must stop shaming our brothers and sisters with STIs... especially our gay brothers with HIV. We have a health care system that is against us and it is time to bring resources to our place of gathering. Many public health departments and non-profit organizations are willing to bring programs into our churches. We just have to open our doors.

Special shout out to those black churches that are involved in their communities, especially the pastors that have been working in Ferguson since the killing of Mike Brown.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come." Luke 4:18-19

Why I Chose to Return to my PWI for Grad School

Since I was 13, I always wanted to attend an HBCU. The culture, the blackness, and the plethora of black men always fascinated me. After applying to colleges, I finally got into the HBCU of my dreams, but reality hit me when that tuition price hit my mailbox. I chose to go with the SEC PWI, because it was a different scene. I wanted to see the world in a different light filled with football and hardcore academics... and that's what I got, a very different non-diverse light. I can't even lie, being at a PWI was hard for me as a black woman. It was a culture shock. It's funny looking back on my four years at this institution, because I was in very awkward situations, like being one of only two black people in my introductory classes. I can make a list of the many microaggressions that I encountered at this school. Sometimes I even think back on situations and cry, because no one should have to go through reading racist Yik Yak posts about their friend's death a day after they passed away. I shouldn't have been scared for my life and education because I wrote a couple of tweets exposing the racist culture of our DT area.... but I was, and I let that get to me and I silenced myself.

Through all of this, I believe that being here at a PWI made me more aware of my blackness. It made me appreciate myself, and those that paved the way for me to even step foot on this institution. I also learned what I could and couldn't tolerate in a majority white environment. I am thankful for the amazing black women I had as friends, and the black orgs that I was involved in, because it helped me feel at home... comfortable. I can also say that this strengthened my mental health because chronic stress can definitely result from feeling unwelcomed in this type of environment.

So why did I stay at this PWI? I stayed, because I have so much work to do. I believe that my voice can help so many black undergrad students through the tough time of being the minority at a PWI. I also became attached to the city... a city that has been called one of the poorest in the nations. A city where the residents of color work on campus and can't receive a living wage, yet their ancestors built this billion dollar institution on their backs. I came back, because my work here is not quite done. The academics and my grad program is amazing, but this city and the residents taught me a lot about myself. This is why I always stress to students the importance of giving back to the community, because we have privileges that many people don't have. Through all of the hardships and sometimes feeling alone, I too, STILL belong at this PWI. My education is just as important as any other person... as any other white person.